discredit

verb

/dɪsˈkredɪt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they discredit	/dɪsˈkredɪt/ /dɪsˈkredɪt/
he / she / it discredits	/dɪsˈkredɪts/ /dɪsˈkredɪts/
past simple discredited	/dɪsˈkredɪtɪd/ /dɪsˈkredɪtɪd/
past participle discredited	/dɪsˈkredɪtɪd/ /dɪsˈkredɪtɪd/
-ing form discrediting	/dɪsˈkredɪtɪŋ/ /dɪsˈkredɪtɪŋ/

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discredit somebody/something to make people stop respecting somebody/something
- The photos were deliberately taken to discredit the president.
- a discredited government/policy
Extra Examples
- She accused the minister of trying to discredit the government.
- This was a blatant attempt to discredit this company.
- This divided and discredited government has lost the trust of the people.
discredit something to make people stop believing that something is true; to make something appear unlikely to be true
- These theories are now largely discredited among linguists.
- This new evidence discredits earlier findings.
- These ideas have now been completely discredited.

Word Originmid 16th cent.: from dis- (expressing reversal) + credit, on the pattern of Italian (di)scredito (noun), (di)screditare (verb), and French discrédit (noun), discréditer (verb).

discredit

noun

/dɪsˈkredɪt/

(formal)

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[uncountable] damage to somebody’s/something's reputation; loss of respect
- Violent football fans bring discredit on the teams they support.
- My brother’s behaviour did great discredit to the family.
- to somebody/something's discredit Britain, to its discredit, did not speak out against these atrocities.
compare credit
Extra Examples
- By telling lies he brought discredit upon the Army.
- Her behaviour has brought discredit on her family.
- His selfish decision is greatly to his discredit.
- It does us great discredit to treat foreigners so badly.
- She brought the whole system into discredit.
- Your failure reflects no discredit upon you—you did your best.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
verb + discredit
- bring
- reflect
- bring something into
- …
preposition
- to somebody’s discredit
- discredit to
See full entry
[countable] discredit (to somebody/something) a person or thing that causes damage to somebody's/something's reputation or loss of respect
- They were a discredit to their country.

Word Originmid 16th cent.: from dis- (expressing reversal) + credit, on the pattern of Italian (di)scredito (noun), (di)screditare (verb), and French discrédit (noun), discréditer (verb).