merit

1 of 2

noun

mer·​it ˈmer-ət How to pronounce merit (audio)
ˈme-rət
plural merits
1
a
: a praiseworthy quality : virtue
But originality, as it is one of the highest, is also one of the rarest, of merits.Edgar Allan Poe
b
: character or conduct deserving reward, honor, or esteem
also : achievement
… he composed a number of works of merit. H. E. Starr
c
: a person's qualities, actions, etc. regarded as indicating what the person deserves to receive
Opinions of his merit vary.
Admissions officers judge one's merit by looking at one's past accomplishments and circumstances. But merit is not just about one's past—it is about one's future potential.Michelle I. Gao
d
obsolete : reward or punishment due
2
a
merits plural : the substance of a legal case apart from matters of jurisdiction, procedure, or form
The plaintiff … is entitled to have its claim decided here on its merits.T. M. Maddes
b
: individual significance or justification (see justification sense 1)
The contention is without merit.E. B. Denny
3
: spiritual credit held to be earned by performance of righteous acts and to ensure future benefits
… the Crusades … did serve the desire to gain spiritual meritJacques Barzun
meritless
ˈmer-ət-ləs How to pronounce merit (audio)
ˈme-rət-
adjective

merit

2 of 2

verb

merited; meriting; merits

transitive verb

: to be worthy of or entitled or liable to : earn

intransitive verb

1
2
obsolete : to be entitled to reward or honor

Examples of merit in a Sentence

Noun She saw merit in both of the arguments. The study has no scientific merit. Verb Both ideas merit further consideration. These issues merit special attention. His good work merits a raise. She did well enough to merit a second interview. The attention she received was not merited.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Aside from regaining his title as the world’s richest person, Bernard Arnault has now received France’s highest honor for his outstanding merits. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2024 In late 2022, the appellate court disagreed, and ruled that the trial court erred in dismissing the recall on technical grounds, and ordered that court to evaluate Martin’s recall bid on its merits. Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 No Senate Republicans spoke on the merits of the bill. Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 13 Mar. 2024 The 5th Circuit is slated to hear arguments on the merits of SB4 on April 3. Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 12 Mar. 2024 During the luncheon, the Guild honored publicist Jackie Bazan with the Bob Yeager Award for community service, and the Motion Picture & Television Fund with the Henri Bollinger Award for special merit. Carolyn Giardina, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024 The Justice Department does not state a reason for declining a case but has said in other court cases that doing so has no bearing on its merits. Fred Schulte, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 However, the bar to receive a temporary injunction is very high: the party who requests one must show a likelihood of irreparable harm if the injunction is not granted, and that the filing party will be likely to succeed at the merits stage of the case. Jill Goldenziel, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The appeals court judges did not rule on the merits on the case. Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
However, Cannon pushed back -- suggesting on two separate occasions that the argument would not merit dismissal -- and said that Blanche's argument would be better suited at trial, rather than in a motion to dismiss. Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2024 But both are memorable and seem to merit further investigation. Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 The Anthropocene proposal got its start in 2009, when a working group was convened to investigate whether recent planetary changes merited a place on the geologic timeline. Raymond Zhong, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Alberto Carvalho, saying the district leader merited a grade of F for his work to date. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024 Despite Roman’s initial doubts about meriting the medal, Gen. Eric Smith, commandant of the Marine Corps and Roman’s battalion commander in Ramadi, personally signed off on the Purple Heart. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2024 Newton, a 2022 inductee into The Black College Football Hall of Fame, should merit consideration for the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Feb. 2024 On Thursday, Farley shared thoughts on how to address the challenge from China, suggesting some cooperation among rivals may be merited on battery production. Steve Mollman, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024 Enclosed by high walls covered in verdant ivy, the Baroque gardens are lush with roses, herbs and perennial flowers and shrubs, meriting its inclusion in the Secret Gardens of Georgetown. Spencer Elliott, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French merite, from Latin meritum, from neuter of meritus, past participle of merēre to deserve, earn; akin to Greek meiresthai to receive as one's portion, meros part

Verb

Middle French meriter, from merite merit entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

1526, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of merit was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near merit

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

merit

1 of 2 noun
mer·​it ˈmer-ət How to pronounce merit (audio)
1
: the qualities or actions that determine one's worthiness of reward or punishment
were rewarded according to merit
2
: a quality worthy of praise : virtue
the merit of honesty
3
: worth entry 2 sense 2, value
your idea has great merit
4
: individual significance or justification
the accusation is without merit
meritless adjective

merit

2 of 2 verb
: to earn by service or performance : deserve

Legal Definition

merit

noun
mer·​it ˈmer-ət How to pronounce merit (audio)
1
plural : the substance of a case apart from matters of jurisdiction, procedure, or form
a ruling on the merits of the case
see also judgment on the merits at judgment sense 1a
2
: legal significance, standing, or worth
an argument without merit

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