demerit

/diːˈmerɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /diːˈmerɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈmer-ət dē-, -ˈme-rət/ (ame, mw)

demerit — noun

  • demeritsingular
  • demeritsplural

1. a feature of something that makes it less good, less useful, or less attractive.

1.名詞C1
釋義

a feature of something that makes it less good, less useful, or less attractive.

例句

One demerit of the apartment is its tiny kitchen.

pattern: one demerit of + noun

The phone's biggest demerit is a battery that dies by noon.

collocation: biggest demerit

同義詞
  • drawback

    common for a disadvantage that reduces the value of something

  • downside

    more informal and common in everyday speech

  • fault

    can sound more direct and can describe a person's mistake as well

  • defect

    narrower because it often suggests a flaw in design or manufacture

反義詞
  • merit

    a good quality or point in favor of something

文法句型

one demerit of + noun

the main demerit of + noun

merits and demerits of + noun

用法筆記

This sense is often used in formal comparisons, reports, or discussions of choices. Distinguish it from sense 2, which is a punishment mark on a person's record rather than a bad side of a thing.

常見錯誤

❌One demerit about the plan is the cost.
✅One demerit of the plan is the cost.
💡'Of' is the usual preposition when you name the bad point.

2. an official bad mark added to a student's or member's record for breaking rules.

2.名詞C1
釋義

an official bad mark added to a student's or member's record for breaking rules.

例句

Lakshmi got a demerit for talking during the chemistry quiz.

pattern: get a demerit for + verb-ing

Two more demerits will keep Otis off the class trip.

pattern: two more demerits

同義詞
  • black mark

    informal; any bad point against you, not always an official record mark

  • penalty point

    used in narrower rule systems such as driving or sports

  • reprimand

    focuses on being officially scolded, not always on a recorded mark

  • warning

    usually comes earlier and may not stay on a permanent record

反義詞
  • merit

    a good mark or point that counts in your favor

文法句型

get a demerit for + verb-ing

give somebody a demerit

receive a demerit on your record

用法筆記

This sense is common in schools, camps, and other groups that keep behavior records. It often appears with for before the rule break, unlike sense 1, which describes a negative feature of a thing.

常見錯誤

❌She got demerit for being late.
✅She got a demerit for being late.
💡This sense is countable when it means one mark on a record.
❌The teacher gave him a demerit to talking.
✅The teacher gave him a demerit for talking.
💡Use 'for' before the action that broke the rule.