noun
- A mark against a person for misconduct or failure; usually given in school or armed forces.
- usage: "ten demerits and he loses his privileges"
- The quality of being inadequate or falling short of perfection.
- usage: "they discussed the merits and demerits of her novel"; "he knew his own faults much better than she did"
- synonyms: fault
WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University
| APA | WordNet. (2010). demerit. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/demerit/definitions/1211716 |
| Chicago | WordNet. 2010. "demerit" http://smartdefine.org/demerit/definitions/1211716 (accessed September 20, 2026). |
| Harvard | WordNet 2010, demerit, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/demerit/definitions/1211716>. |
| MLA | WordNet. "demerit" 23 October 2010. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/demerit/definitions/1211716> |