demerit
noun
de·mer·it
di-ˈmer-ət 
dē-,
-ˈme-rət
Examples of demerit in a Sentence
Students are given demerits if they arrive late for classes.
my keyboarding has the advantage of speed but the demerit of inaccuracy
Recent Examples on the Web
The report compiled by the Star-Telegram contains data from June 29 through July 5 and 144 inspections
Fort Worth’s restaurants function on a demerit system: Zero demerits is considered a perfect score.
—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2025
Food and diet researchers are also criticizing the direction the National Institutes of Health are going in possibly stifling debate regarding the merits and demerits of different foods.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
One Fort Worth restaurant received more than 30 demerits during June 15-21 inspections, and roaches were found at others, according to data from the city compiled by the Star-Telegram.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 June 2025
Five Words in the 14th Still, the focus of the arguments will undoubtedly be on birthright citizenship itself, with briefs filed by the Trump administration and the organizations fighting its plan arguing the merits and demerits of birthright.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for demerit
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Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2025
Food and diet researchers are also criticizing the direction the National Institutes of Health are going in possibly stifling debate regarding the merits and demerits of different foods.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
One Fort Worth restaurant received more than 30 demerits during June 15-21 inspections, and roaches were found at others, according to data from the city compiled by the Star-Telegram.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 June 2025
Five Words in the 14th Still, the focus of the arguments will undoubtedly be on birthright citizenship itself, with briefs filed by the Trump administration and the organizations fighting its plan arguing the merits and demerits of birthright.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for demerit
Cite this Entry
“Demerit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demerit. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
demerit
noun
de·mer·it
di-ˈmer-ət
1
: a quality that deserves blame : fault
2
: a mark placed against a person's record for some fault or offense
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