demerit Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a mark against a person for misconduct or failure; usually given in school or armed forces
    • ten demerits and he loses his privileges
  2. noun the quality of being inadequate or falling short of perfection
    fault.
    • they discussed the merits and demerits of her novel
    • he knew his own faults much better than she did

WordNet

De*mer"it noun
Etymology
F. démérite demerit (in sense 2), OF. demerite demerit (in sense 1), fr. L. demerere to deserve well, LL., to deserve well or ill; de- + merere to deserve. See De-, and Merit.
Definitions
  1. That which one merits or deserves, either of good or ill; desert. Obs.
    By many benefits and demerits whereby they obliged their adherents, [they] acquired this reputation. Holland.
  2. That which deserves blame; ill desert; a fault; a vice; misconduct; -- the opposite of merit.
    They see no merit or demerit in any man or any action. Burke.
    Secure, unless forfeited by any demerit or offense. Sir W. Temple.
  3. The state of one who deserves ill.
De*mer"it transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. démériter to deserve ill. See Demerit, n.
Definitions
  1. To deserve; -- said in reference to both praise and blame. Obs.
    If I have demerited any love or thanks. Udall.
    Executed as a traitor . . . as he well demerited. State Trials (1645).
  2. To depreciate or cry down. R. Bp. Woolton.
De*mer"it intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To deserve praise or blame.

Webster 1913