demerit
C1Formal, Institutional
Definition
Meaning
A fault or a quality deserving of blame; a mark or record of a failure or offense.
A quality or action considered to be deserving of punishment or a negative judgment, often used in formal, institutional, or educational contexts to denote a penalty point.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a countable noun. Often used in contrast with 'merit'. Carries connotations of formal judgment and punitive systems (e.g., schools, military, bureaucratic rules).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, though the concept of 'demerit points' on a driver's licence is more commonly discussed in US and Commonwealth countries (like Australia, Canada) than in the UK itself, where 'penalty points' is the standard term.
Connotations
In both varieties, strongly associated with formal systems of discipline and negative assessment.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, particularly in the context of 'demerit system' in schools or organizations.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + demerit: receive, get, earn, incur, assign, givedemerit + [prep.] + [noun]: demerit for (lateness), demerit on (one's record)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on (one's) demerits: judged based solely on faults or shortcomings.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically in performance reviews: 'The proposal's financial demerits were too significant to ignore.'
Academic
Used in philosophical or ethical discussions contrasting merits and demerits of an argument or theory.
Everyday
Limited. Primarily understood in contexts of schooling or driving penalties.
Technical
Used in formal disciplinary systems within institutions (military academies, private schools, some corporate policies).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The headmaster will demerit any student found with a mobile phone during exams.
- His conduct was deemed serious enough to be demerited.
American English
- The system automatically demerits drivers for speeding violations.
- You'll be demerited for each unexcused absence.
adverb
British English
- The action was judged demeritoriously by the committee. (Rare, formal)
- He acted demeritoriously. (Rare, formal)
American English
- Her application was reviewed demeritoriously due to the errors. (Rare, formal)
- (No common adverbial use; 'unfavorably' is preferred.)
adjective
British English
- The demerit-based disciplinary system was considered harsh.
- He received a demerit slip for the infraction.
American English
- She was placed on demerit probation after three offenses.
- The demerit point will stay on your record for two years.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In our school, being late gives you a demerit.
- The main demerit of the plan is its high cost.
- He got a demerit for not wearing his uniform.
- The proposal's merits were debated alongside its considerable demerits.
- Accumulating twelve demerits results in automatic suspension.
- A purely demerit-based assessment fails to account for incremental improvement.
- The judge considered the case strictly on its demerits, ignoring the defendant's previously clean record.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DE-MERIT. DE- often means 'down' or 'away from'. So, a demerit takes you 'down' or 'away from' your merit.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS ACCOUNTING / GOODNESS IS A SCORE. Demerits are debits or negative entries on a moral or behavioral ledger.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'демерит' — it's a false friend. Use 'недостаток', 'изъян', 'штрафной балл' depending on context.
- Do not confuse with 'demented' ('безумный').
Common Mistakes
- Using it as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'there is much demerit'). It is almost always countable.
- Using it in overly casual contexts where 'downside' or 'drawback' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'demerit' MOST typically used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in its core sense. A 'merit' is a good quality or action deserving reward; a 'demerit' is a bad one deserving punishment or a negative mark.
Yes, though it is less common and highly formal/institutional. It means 'to assign a demerit to' (e.g., 'The officer demerited the cadet').
A 'drawback' is a general disadvantage of a plan or situation. A 'demerit' implies a formal judgment of fault, often within a structured system of rules.
The concept exists, but the UK term is almost exclusively 'penalty points'. 'Demerit points' is used in the US, Canada, Australia, and other countries.