countable noun [usually plural, usually with poss]
The demeritsof something or someone are their faults or disadvantages.
[formal]
...articles debating the merits and demerits of the three candidates.
demerit in British English
(diːˈmɛrɪt, ˈdiːˌmɛrɪt)
noun
1.
something, esp conduct, that deserves censure
2. US and Canadian
a mark given against a person for failure or misconduct, esp in schools or the armed forces
3.
a fault or disadvantage
Derived forms
demeritorious (deˌmeriˈtorious)
adjective
demeritoriously (deˌmeriˈtoriously)
adverb
Word origin
C14 (originally: worth, later specialized to mean: something worthy of blame): fromLatin dēmerērī to deserve
demerit in American English
(diˈmɛrɪt; dɪˈmɛrɪt)
noun
1.
a quality deserving blame; fault; defect
2.
lack of merit
3. US
a mark recorded against a student, trainee, etc. for poor conduct or work
Word origin
ME & OFr demerite < ML demeritum, fault < pp. of demerere, to forfeit, not merit, with meaning altered (de- taken in negative sense) < L, to merit < de-, intens. + merere, to deserve
Examples of 'demerit' in a sentence
demerit
Lu wondered how detailed it was, if it would contain each demerit he had received over the years.