demerit
de·mer·it
noun \di-ˈmer-ət, dē-, -ˈme-rət\Definition of DEMERIT
1
obsolete : offense
3
: a mark usually entailing a loss of privilege given to an offender
Examples of DEMERIT
- Students are given demerits if they arrive late for classes.
- <as a typist she has the advantage of speed but the demerit of inaccuracy>
Origin of DEMERIT
Middle English, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French demerite, from Medieval Latin demeritum, from neuter of demeritus, past participle of demerēre to be undeserving of, from Latin, to earn, from de- + merēre to merit
First Known Use: 15th century
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