merit

C2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈmɛɹɪt/ UK /ˈmɛɹɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #9342

Meanings

1

noun
A good quality that deserves praise or reward.

The committee judged each entry on its artistic merit.
2

verb
To deserve or be worthy of something.

Her brilliant performance merited the standing ovation it received.
3

noun
The real facts and arguments of a case, judged in themselves.

The judge dismissed the technicalities and decided the case on its merits.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a good quality that... excellence value worth virtue

2 verb · to deserve or be worthy of... bear deserve earn

Word family

Forms meritedmeritingmeritsunmeritedunmeritedly

Derived forms immeritimmeritoriousimmeritoriouslymerit-badgingmerit-basedmeritablemeritagemeritedmeritedlymeritermeritfulmeritious

Related forms demerit meretriciousmeretriciouslymeretriciousnesspromerit

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

merit badge
a badge awarded in scouting for completing work or demonstrating a skill

Noun + noun

Proverbs (1)

See all

Great modesty often hides great merit

Etymology

From Middle English merit, merite (“quality of person’s character or conduct deserving of reward or punishment; such reward or punishment; excellence, worthiness; benefit; right to be rewarded for spiritual service; retribution at doomsday; virtue through which Jesus Christ brings about salvation; virtue possessed by a holy person; power of a pagan deity”), from Anglo-Norman merit, merite, Old French merite (“moral worth, reward; merit”) (modern French mérite), from Latin meritum (“that which one deserves, deserts; benefit, reward, merit; service; kindness; importance, value, worth; blame, dem…

*(s)mer- Proto-Indo-European merit Middle English merite Old French meritum Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# merit

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈmɛɹɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈmɛɹɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 9342

## Meanings
1. A good quality that deserves praise or reward.
2. To deserve or be worthy of something.
3. The real facts and arguments of a case, judged in themselves.

## Examples
- The committee judged each entry on its artistic merit.
- Her brilliant performance merited the standing ovation it received.
- The judge dismissed the technicalities and decided the case on its merits.

## Derived Forms
- immerit
- immeritorious
- immeritoriously
- merit-badging
- merit-based
- meritable
- meritage
- merited
- meritedly
- meriter
- meritful
- meritious

## Related Forms
- demerit
- meretricious
- meretriciously
- meretriciousness
- promerit

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *(s)mer-
- Root: merit
- Root: merite
- Root: meritum

## Etymology
From Middle English merit, merite (“quality of person’s character or conduct deserving of reward or punishment; such reward or punishment; excellence, worthiness; benefit; right to be rewarded for spiritual service; retribution at doomsday; virtue through which Jesus Christ brings about salvation; virtue possessed by a holy person; power of a pagan deity”), from Anglo-Norman merit, merite, Old French merite (“moral worth, reward; merit”) (modern French mérite), from Latin meritum (“that which one deserves, deserts; benefit, reward, merit; service; kindness; importance, value, worth; blame, dem…

## AI Etymology
Merit is from Middle English merit, merite (“quality of person’s character or conduct deserving of reward or punishment; such reward or punishment; excellence, worthiness; benefit; right to be rewarded for spiritual service; retribution at doomsday; virtue through which Jesus Christ brings about salvation; virtue possessed by a holy person; power of a pagan deity”), from Anglo-Norman merit, merite, Old French merite (“moral worth, reward; merit”) (modern French mérite), from Latin meritum (“that which one deserves, deserts; benefit, reward, merit; service; kindness; importance, value, worth; blame, dem… Important recorded forms include *(s)mer- (Proto-Indo-European), merit (Middle English), merit (xno), merite (Old French), and meritum (Latin). Current senses include a good quality that deserves praise or reward and to deserve or be worthy of something. The wider family includes derived forms such as immerit, immeritorious, immeritoriously, merit-badging, and merit-based; related words such as demerit, meretricious, meretriciously, and meretriciousness.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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