[diːˈmɛrɪt], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a fault or disadvantage
(e.g: the merits and demerits of these proposals)

- a mark awarded against someone for a fault or offence


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English (also in the sense ‘merit’): from Old French desmerite or Latin demeritum ‘something deserved’, neuter past participle of demereri, from de- ‘thoroughly’ (also understood in medieval Latin as denoting reversal) + mereri ‘to merit’