merit

[ mer-it ]

/ ˈmɛr ɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR merit ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

claim to respect and praise; excellence; worth.

something that deserves or justifies a reward or commendation; a commendable quality, act, etc.: The book's only merit is its sincerity.

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.

Often merits. the state or fact of deserving; desert: to treat people according to their merits.

Roman Catholic Church. worthiness of spiritual reward, acquired by righteous acts made under the influence of grace.

Obsolete. something that is deserved, whether good or bad.

verb (used with object)

to be worthy of; deserve.

verb (used without object)

Chiefly Theology. to acquire merit.

adjective

based on merit: a merit raise of $25 a week.

Nearby words

merisis, merism, meristem, meristematic, meristic, merits, merit badge, merit pay, merit system, merited, meritless

Origin of merit

1175–1225; Middle English < Latin meritum act worthy of praise (or blame), noun use of neuter of meritus, past participle of merēre to earn

SYNONYMS FOR merit

1 value, credit.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR merit ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

mer·it·ed·ly, adverbmer·it·less, adjectivehalf-mer·it·ed, adjectiveo·ver·mer·it, verb

pre·mer·it, verb (used with object)self-mer·it, nounun·mer·it·ed, adjectiveun·mer·it·ed·ly, adverbwell-mer·it·ed, adjective

Synonym study

1. See desert³.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for merits

So, the arrival of a foreign journalist in Belgika merits a town meeting.
The Congo's Forgotten Colonial Getaway|Nina Strochlic|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The government has blocked every opportunity to challenge this case on its merits.
Special Forces’ $77M ‘Hustler’ Hits Back|Kevin Maurer|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He criticized rather than praised the merits of powerful government, but he did so with unequivocal certainty.
The Birth of the Novel|Nick Romeo|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
U.S. schools will receive funding and “customers” regardless of their merits (or lack thereof).
How a GOP Senate Can Help the Poor|Veronique de Rugy|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I could bring concepts to her and have them considered on their merits.
The Valerie Jarrett I Know: How She Saved the Obama Campaign and Why She’s Indispensable|Joshua DuBois|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These explanations rest their credit and their preference on their own merits.
Proofs of a Conspiracy against all the Religions and Governments of Europe|John Robison
But Brenton, going on his way, was totally oblivious to the doctor's sage counsel as to the merits of deep breathing.
The Brentons|Anna Chapin Ray
These conditions apart, however, there is one highly specialised clinical type that merits separate study—viz.
Tics and Their Treatment|Henry Meigne
With all these merits, however, they are not found to be a profitable breed, if kept thorough-bred and unmixed.
Sheep, Swine, and Poultry|Robert Jennings
It is of course difficult to arrive at any conclusion on the merits of the case.
Disturbed Ireland|Bernard H. Becker

British Dictionary definitions for merits (1 of 2)

merits

/ (ˈmɛrɪts) /

pl n

the actual and intrinsic rights and wrongs of an issue, esp in a law case, as distinct from extraneous matters and technicalities

on its merits on the intrinsic qualities or virtues

British Dictionary definitions for merits (2 of 2)

merit

/ (ˈmɛrɪt) /

noun

worth or superior quality; excellencework of great merit

(often plural) a deserving or commendable quality or actjudge him on his merits

Christianity spiritual credit granted or received for good works

the fact or state of deserving; desert

an obsolete word for reward

verb -its, -iting or -ited

(tr) to be worthy of; deservehe merits promotion

Word Origin for merit

C13: via Old French from Latin meritum reward, desert, from merēre to deserve

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for merits (1 of 2)

merit

c.1200, "spiritual credit" (for good works, etc.); c.1300, "spiritual reward," from Old French merite "wages, pay, reward; thanks; merit, moral worth, that which assures divine pity," and directly from Latin meritum "a merit, service, kindness, benefit, favor; worth, value, importance," neuter of meritus, past participle of merere, meriri "to earn, deserve, acquire, gain," from PIE root *(s)mer- "to allot, assign" (cf. Greek meros "part, lot," moira "share, fate," moros "fate, destiny, doom," Hittite mark "to divide" a sacrifice).

Sense of "worthiness, excellence" is from early 14c.; from late 14c. as "condition or conduct that deserves either reward or punishment;" also "a reward, benefit." Related: Merits. Merit system attested from 1880. Merit-monger was in common use 16c.-17c. in a sense roughly of "do-gooder."

Word Origin and History for merits (1 of 2)

merit

late 15c., "to be entitled to," from Middle French meriter (Modern French mériter), from merite (n.), or directly from Latin meritare "to earn, yield," frequentative of mereri "to earn (money);" also "to serve as a soldier" (see merit (n.)). Related: Merited; meriting.

Idioms and Phrases with merits

merit

see on its merits.

merit

noun

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

adjective

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of merit

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for merits

British Dictionary definitions for merits (1 of 2)

merits

pl n

British Dictionary definitions for merits (2 of 2)

merit

noun

verb -its, -iting or -ited

Word Origin for merit

Word Origin and History for merits (1 of 2)

merit

Word Origin and History for merits (1 of 2)

merit

Idioms and Phrases with merits

merit