DEMERIT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does demerit mean? 

• DEMERIT (noun)
  The noun DEMERIT has 2 senses:

1. a mark against a person for misconduct or failure; usually given in school or armed forces

2. the quality of being inadequate or falling short of perfection

  Familiarity information: DEMERIT used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEMERIT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A mark against a person for misconduct or failure; usually given in school or armed forces

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Context example:

ten demerits and he loses his privileges

Hypernyms ("demerit" is a kind of...):

brand; mark; stain; stigma (a symbol of disgrace or infamy)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The quality of being inadequate or falling short of perfection

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

demerit; fault

Context example:

he knew his own faults much better than she did

Hypernyms ("demerit" is a kind of...):

worth (the quality that renders something desirable or valuable or useful)

Antonym:

merit (any admirable quality or attribute)

 Context examples 

Mrs. Norris, whose attachment seemed to augment with the demerits of her niece, would have had her received at home and countenanced by them all.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Some portion of respect for herself, however, in spite of all these demerits—some concern for her own appearance, and a strong sense of justice by Harriet—(there would be no need of compassion to the girl who believed herself loved by Mr. Knightley—but justice required that she should not be made unhappy by any coldness now,) gave Emma the resolution to sit and endure farther with calmness, with even apparent kindness.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Everything natural, probable, reasonable, was against it; all their habits and ways of thinking, and all her own demerits.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)