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

Former Australia batter Stuart Law questioned the merits of sending the Test players to Canberra, however, because of the difference in conditions compared to Brisbane.

Read more on BBC

The decision concluded the final merits hearing of his immigration case and marked the 60th day of his detention at the Bluebonnet Detention Center.

Read more on Salon

In a 26-page order, Superior Court Judge Gary D. Roberts on Wednesday granted a request by the county to reject the lawsuit under California’s Anti-SLAPP law, writing that Villanueva’s claims lack “minimal merit.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

One reason for the decrease, DeGroff said, is it takes time for regional offices to identify claims in line with the new priorities and with enough merit to file a federal complaint.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

These antagonist episodes in U.S.-Mexico relations may merit little more than a footnote in some basic U.S. history texts.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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