merit

[mer-it]

noun

1. claim to respect and praise; excellence; worth.

   Synonyms: esteem, value

2. something that deserves or justifies a reward or commendation; a commendable quality, act, etc..

   The book's only merit is its sincerity.

3. merits, the inherent rights and wrongs of a matter, as a lawsuit, unobscured by procedural details, technicalities, personal feelings, etc..

   The case will be decided on its merits alone.

4. Often merits. the state or fact of deserving; desert.

   to treat people according to their merits.

5. Roman Catholic Church.,  worthiness of spiritual reward, acquired by righteous acts made under the influence of grace.

6. Obsolete.,  something that is deserved, whether good or bad.

verb (used with object)

1. to be worthy of; deserve.

verb (used without object)

1. Chiefly Theology.,  to acquire merit.

adjective

1. based on merit.

   a merit raise of $25 a week.

merit

/ ˈmɛrɪt /

noun

1. worth or superior quality; excellence

   work of great merit

2. (often plural) a deserving or commendable quality or act

   judge him on his merits

3. Christianity spiritual credit granted or received for good works

4. the fact or state of deserving; desert

5. an obsolete word for reward

verb

1. (tr) to be worthy of; deserve

   he merits promotion

Other Word Forms

• meritedly adverb
• meritless adjective
• half-merited adjective
• overmerit verb
• premerit verb (used with object)
• self-merit noun
• unmerited adjective
• unmeritedly adverb
• well-merited adjective
• merited adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of merit¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Latin meritum “act worthy of praise (or blame),” noun use of neuter of meritus, past participle of merēre “to earn”

Word History and Origins

Origin of merit¹

C13: via Old French from Latin meritum reward, desert, from merēre to deserve

Idioms and Phrases

see on its merits.

Synonym Study

See desert ³.

Example Sentences

“Ballot proposals should be able to stand on their own merit instead of a misleading description or another deceptive tactic to gain support,” Moss said.

From Salon

“We believe that only merit should matter when you have college admissions, or when you hire people into corporations that skin color should have no bearing in such admissions.”

From Los Angeles Times

Protesters argue these individuals enjoy success and luxury without merit, living off public money while ordinary Nepalis struggle.

From BBC

The term refers to a legal complaint that improperly incorporates all previous allegations into each count, making it difficult for the court to evaluate the claims on their own merits.

From Salon

"The red card helped, but I think it was a decision that was merited," O'Neill said.

From BBC

Related Words

• benefit 
• dignity 
• excellence 
• integrity 
• quality 
• stature 
• talent 
• value 
• virtue 
• worthiness