demerit

noun

de·​mer·​it di-ˈmer-ət 

dē-, 

-ˈme-rət

1

obsolete : offense

2

a

: a quality that deserves blame or lacks merit : fault, defect

b

: lack of merit

3

: a mark usually entailing a loss of privilege given to an offender

Synonyms of demerit

• weakness
• fault
• sin
• shortcoming
• failing
• deficiency

Examples of demerit in a Sentence

Students are given demerits if they arrive late for classes.

my keyboarding has the advantage of speed but the demerit of inaccuracy

Recent Examples on the Web

After a long ride to Maryland in a honey vat, Garth is able to sneak Daisy back inside the school with only a demerit for smoking. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 27 May 2026

No establishments scored more than 30 demerits during this round of inspections. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 May 2026

Those were the only demerits of the night for Ohtani. —Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 6 May 2026

Gone were school uniforms and the demerit system. —Steven F. Wilson, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for demerit

• inherit
• preterit
• buret
• carat
• ferret
• garret
• karat
• merit
• parrot
• disinherit

Kids Definition

demerit

noun

de·​mer·​it di-ˈmer-ət 

1

: a quality that deserves blame : fault

2

: a mark placed against a person's record for some fault or offense