LingvoCore.com

disrepute: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

C1
UK/ˌdɪsrɪˈpjuːt/US/ˌdɪsrɪˈpjuːt/

Formal

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “disrepute” mean?

The state of being held in low public esteem.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

The state of being held in low public esteem; damage to one's reputation.

The condition of being discredited or dishonoured, either for an individual or an institution; public disgrace.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in meaning or usage. Slightly more common in British formal and legal contexts.

Connotations

Strongly formal and negative, implying serious damage to public trust.

Frequency

Low frequency in both varieties, but stable in formal registers.

Grammar

How to Use “disrepute” in a Sentence

[institution] + bring + [itself/profession] + into + disrepute[action/behaviour] + bring + [person/institution] + into + disrepute

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
bring intofall intoheld in
medium
public disreputeprofessional disreputebring the profession into disrepute
weak
widespread disreputeutter disreputeavoid disrepute

Examples

Examples of “disrepute” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • The MP's actions served to disrepute the parliamentary system. (Rare, archaic)

American English

  • (Not used as a verb in modern English.)

adverb

British English

  • (No adverbial form.)

American English

  • (No adverbial form.)

adjective

British English

  • (Not used as an adjective. Use 'disreputable'.)

American English

  • (Not used as an adjective. Use 'disreputable'.)

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

"The accounting scandal brought the entire firm into disrepute."

Academic

"Such practices risk bringing scientific research into disrepute."

Everyday

"His constant lateness brought our team into disrepute with the manager."

Technical

"The judge warned that contempt of court could bring the legal process into disrepute."

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “disrepute”

Weak

discreditill reputebad name

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “disrepute”

esteemhonourreputestandinggood name

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “disrepute”

  • *He is in a disrepute. (Incorrect; omit article)
  • *The disrepute of the company... (Possible but less idiomatic than 'bring the company into disrepute')

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is a formal word most common in legal, journalistic, and academic contexts.

No, it is almost always used as an uncountable noun. Avoid the indefinite article.

'Disrepute' is a noun meaning a state of low esteem. 'Disreputable' is an adjective describing someone or something that has, or deserves, a bad reputation.

The most common verbs are 'bring into' and 'fall into'. You 'bring' someone/something else into disrepute, or you/they 'fall' into it.

The state of being held in low public esteem.

Disrepute is usually formal in register.

Disrepute: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɪsrɪˈpjuːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɪsrɪˈpjuːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • “bring something into disrepute”
  • “fall into disrepute”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: DIS (negative) + REPUTE (good reputation) = a bad reputation.

Conceptual Metaphor

REPUTATION IS A VALUABLE OBJECT (that can be tarnished/lost); DISREPUTE IS A HOLE/DEPTH (one falls into).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The series of corruption scandals has .
Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses 'disrepute' correctly?

disrepute: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples | Lingvocore