disservice

[dis-sur-vis]

noun

1. harmful or injurious service; an ill turn.

   Synonyms: unkindness, injury, harm, hurt, wrong

verb (used with object)

disserviced, disservicing 

1. to provide inadequate or faulty service to.

   Small shippers are most often disserviced by transportation breakdowns.

disservice

/ dɪsˈsɜːvɪs /

noun

1. an ill turn; wrong; injury, esp when trying to help

Other Word Forms

• self-disservice noun
• disserviceable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disservice¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; dis- ¹ + service ¹

Example Sentences

“Denying that because we as a society are unable to have a conversation about risk mitigation and harm reduction is really doing a disservice to infant well-being and mental health.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

While it fits his narrative, the overbold assertion does a disservice to serious science, and its lack of nuance gives fuel to those who would say that climate-change discourse is mere ideology.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The book is a disservice to the very great film—Hitchcock’s greatest, in the eyes of many —at its center.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Focusing on THC on the label can actually do a disservice for consumers, because it creates an environment in which people buy based solely on THC content," said Bidwell.

Read more on Science Daily

“Using the same term for individuals who are non-speaking and cannot care for themselves and for individuals who are college professors makes no sense, and does a disservice to all,” he says.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• injustice