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 of disservice

• injustice
• 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

Other fans took to the comments of the original video to joke about Wilde being done a disservice by the person filming the interview. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 4 May 2026

In South Florida, District 20 congressional candidate Luther Campbell said the new map does a disservice to Black voters in parts of Palm Beach County, such as Pahokee, Belle Glade and parts of Riviera Beach who were drawn out of District 20 and into white majority, Republican-leaning districts. —Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 2 May 2026

There are games where calling Casemiro a defensive midfielder can feel like a disservice, as his play can be all-encompassing. —Carl Anka, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2026

And, frankly, a disservice to the viewer. —Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disservice

• preservice
• interservice
• nervous
• nervus

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