merit

American  

[mer-it] / ˈmɛr ɪt /

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 British  

/ 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

merit Idioms  

1. see on its merits.

---

Related Words

See desert ³.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of merit

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”

Example Sentences

More scrutiny on Wilcox means more scrutiny placed on the merits of Manchester United hiring so many staff who have worked at Manchester City.

From BBC

Sen. Kelly vowed to fight the proceedings, and don’t be surprised if he keeps his pension on the merits.

From The Wall Street Journal

The current slate of California gubernatorial candidates should be evaluated on practical merit rather than celebrity appeal.

From Los Angeles Times

The true merit of “Escape From Pompeii” may be as a sourcebook rather than a general history, but it is never short of fascinating.

From The Wall Street Journal

Instead, writing in his Paulsen Perspectives blog, the Wall Street veteran sets out a number of “less-followed warning signs surrounding technology stocks, which merit some consideration.”

From MarketWatch

Related Words

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