disservice

noun

dis·​ser·​vice (ˌ)di(s)-ˈsər-vəs How to pronounce disservice (audio)
: ill service : harm
also : an unhelpful, unkind, or harmful act
misinformation that does a disservice to readers

Examples of disservice in a Sentence

Her comments were a disservice to those volunteers. you do a great disservice to the professionals at the day-care center when you refer to them as “babysitters”
Recent Examples on the Web Rushing into pacts that most harm working families without considering economic fallout and potential hardships is a disservice to our most vulnerable. Peter Brennan, Hartford Courant, 17 Jan. 2024 Because of the subject, a four-hour film (there is an intermission) was necessary, according to McQueen, as a standard 90 minutes would have been a disservice. Joanne Shurvell, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 This also does a disservice to those who are earnestly trying to learn more about birds. USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024 Meyer Lemon Keeping a hardworking space like a laundry room doused in boring neutrals is doing a disservice to a space with loads of potential. Marisa Spyker, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2024 Congress members’ devotion to ritual political gamesmanship is a disservice to us all. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 24 Jan. 2024 To pick just one neighborhood would be a disservice to a city that holds a variety of culture and color and diversity. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2024 But to insist that blue eye shadow is only a signifier of anguish would be a disservice both to the wide-ranging color family of blues and to the complexity of its wearers. Emily Leibert, Allure, 25 Jan. 2024 By trying to tell so many different stories at once, Masters does a disservice to almost all of them. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disservice.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disservice was in 1599

Dictionary Entries Near disservice

Cite this Entry

“Disservice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disservice. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

disservice

noun
dis·​ser·​vice (ˈ)dis-ˈ(s)ər-vəs How to pronounce disservice (audio)
: an unhelpful, unkind, or harmful act
behavior that did a disservice to the sport

More from Merriam-Webster on disservice

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