disservice

noun

dis·​ser·​vice (ˌ)di(s)-ˈsər-vəs 

: ill service : harm

also : an unhelpful, unkind, or harmful act

misinformation that does a disservice to readers

Synonyms

• inequity
• injury
• injustice
• raw deal
• shaft
• unfairness
• unjustness
• wrong

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

Calling Abbott Elementary’s Mr. Johnson an enigma almost seems like a disservice. —Devon Ivie, Vulture, 23 May 2024

Still, the internal favor to Biden might have been a disservice to voters who might not have understood how uneven Biden can be, especially of late. —Philip Elliott, TIME, 2 July 2024

But categorizing foods as good and bad is a disservice to our children. —Zayda Rivera, Parents, 2 July 2024

The Post does readers a disservice by employing incredibly condescending stereotypes about the Mexican people. —Washington Post, 14 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

disservice

noun

dis·​ser·​vice (ˈ)dis-ˈ(s)ər-vəs 

: an unhelpful, unkind, or harmful act

behavior that did a disservice to the sport