First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
demerit
noun de·mer·it \di-ˈmer-ət, dē-, -ˈme-rət\
: a mark that is made on the school record of a student who has done something wrong
: a bad quality in something or someone : a feature or part of something or someone that is unpleasant
Full Definition of DEMERIT
1
obsolete : offense
3
: a mark usually entailing a loss of privilege given to an offender
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Origin of DEMERIT
Middle English, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French demerite, from Medieval Latin demeritum, from neuter of demeritus, past participle of demerēre to be undeserving of, from Latin, to earn, from de- + merēre to merit
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DEMERIT Defined for Kids
demerit
noun de·mer·it \dē-ˈmer-ət\
Definition of DEMERIT for Kids
: a mark placed against a person's record for doing something wrong
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