demerit
Americannoun
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a mark against a person for misconduct or deficiency.
If you receive four demerits during a term, you will be expelled from school.
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the quality of being censurable or punishable; fault; culpability.
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Obsolete. merit or desert.
noun
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something, esp conduct, that deserves censure
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a mark given against a person for failure or misconduct, esp in schools or the armed forces
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a fault or disadvantage
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of demerit
1350–1400; Middle English (< Old French desmerite ) < Medieval Latin dēmeritum fault, noun use of neuter past participle of Latin dēmerēre to earn, win the favor of ( dē- taken in ML as privative, hence pejorative). See de-, merit
Explanation
A demerit is a mark for doing something wrong. Running in the hall at school might get you one demerit. Running in the hall naked could get you a demerit that will go down on your permanent record. Avoid! A demerit is also a fault or weakness. If you're trying to decide which candidate to vote for, consider the merits and demerits of each. The other kind of demerit is a punishment — a negative mark against someone, especially a student or a member of the military. Your teacher might have a policy of handing out three demerits before requiring students to stay after school for detention. The Old French desmerite combines des-, "not," and merite, "merit," or "worth."
Vocabulary lists containing demerit
A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe
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Promise Boys
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Excerpt from "Speak"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If a venue receives six demerit points across a five-year period it is suspended from hosting international cricket for 12 months.
From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2025
International Cricket Council referee Jeff Crowe is yet to deliver his assessment of the pitch, which if handed an "unsatisfactory" rating would see the venue slapped with a demerit point.
From Barron's ● Dec. 29, 2025
Yet his job review has never included a bonus for a player being called up to the majors or a demerit when someone comes up short.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2024
Companies also point to the higher cost of raw materials as a demerit.
From Reuters ● Sep. 22, 2022
A chalkboard held lists of students' names and their demerit reports.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
