English

Noun

demerit ‎(plural demerits)

1. A quality of being inadequate; a fault; a disadvantage
   • Burke

     They see no merit or demerit in any man or any action.

   • Sir W. Temple

     Secure, unless forfeited by any demerit or offense.

2. A mark given for bad conduct to a person attending an educational institution or serving in the army.
   • 2002, Commencement Address at West Point, by G.W.Bush:

     A few of you have followed in the path of the perfect West Point graduate, Robert E. Lee, who never received a single demerit in four years. Some of you followed in the path of the imperfect graduate, Ulysses S. Grant, who had his fair share of demerits, and said the happiest day of his life was "the day I left West Point." (Laughter.)

3. That which one merits or deserves, either of good or ill; desert.
   • Holland

     By many benefits and demerits whereby they obliged their adherents, [they] acquired this reputation.

Synonyms

• discredit

Antonyms

• merit

Derived terms

• demerit point

Translations

Verb

demerit ‎(third-person singular simple present demerits, present participle demeriting, simple past and past participle demerited)

1. (transitive, archaic) To deserve.
   • 1840, Alexander Campbell, Dolphus Skinner, A discussion of the doctrines of the endless misery and universal salvation (page 351)

     You hold that every sin is an infinite evil, demeriting endless punishment.

   • Udall

     If I have demerited any love or thanks.

2. (transitive, archaic) To depreciate or cry down.
   • Bishop John Woolton

     Faith by her own dignity and worthiness doth not demerit justice and righteousness; but receiveth and embraceth the same offered unto us in the gospel […]

Anagrams

• dimeter
• merited
• mitered