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demerit
[ dih-mer-it ]
/ dɪˈmɛr ɪt /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
noun
a mark against a person for misconduct or deficiency: If you receive four demerits during a term, you will be expelled from school.
the quality of being censurable or punishable; fault; culpability.
Obsolete. merit or desert.
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Origin of demerit
OTHER WORDS FROM demerit
de·mer·i·to·ri·ous [dih-mer-i-tawr-ee-uhs, -tohr-], /dɪˌmɛr ɪˈtɔr i əs, -ˈtoʊr-/, adjectivede·mer·i·to·ri·ous·ly, adverbWords nearby demerit
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use demerit in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for demerit
demerit
/ (diːˈmɛrɪt, ˈdiːˌmɛrɪt) /
noun
something, esp conduct, that deserves censure
US and Canadian a mark given against a person for failure or misconduct, esp in schools or the armed forces
a fault or disadvantage
Derived forms of demerit
demeritorious, adjectivedemeritoriously, adverbWord Origin for demerit
C14 (originally: worth, later specialized to mean: something worthy of blame): from Latin dēmerērī to deserve
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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