demerit

/diˈmɛrət/

Other forms: demerits

A demerit is a mark for doing something wrong. Running in the hall at school might get you one demerit. Running in the hall naked could get you a demerit that will go down on your permanent record. Avoid!

A demerit is also a fault or weakness. If you're trying to decide which candidate to vote for, consider the merits and demerits of each. The other kind of demerit is a punishment — a negative mark against someone, especially a student or a member of the military. Your teacher might have a policy of handing out three demerits before requiring students to stay after school for detention. The Old French desmerite combines des-, "not," and merite, "merit," or "worth."

Definitions of demerit

1. noun

   a quality or feature deserving censure
   “they discussed the merits and demerits of her novel”

   synonyms: fault

   antonyms:

   merit

   any admirable quality or attribute

   type of:

   worth

   the quality that renders something desirable or valuable or useful
2. noun

   a mark against a person for misconduct or failure; usually given in school or armed forces
   “ten demerits and he loses his privileges”

   type of:

   brand, mark, stain, stigma

   a symbol of disgrace or infamy