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merit definition

merit (mer′it)

noun

  1. the state, fact, or quality of deserving well or, sometimes, ill; desert
  2. worth; value; excellence
  3. something deserving reward, praise, or gratitude
  4. a reward or honor given for superior qualities or conduct; mark, badge, etc. awarded for excellence
  5. intrinsic rightness or wrongness apart from formalities, emotional considerations, etc. to decide a case on its merits

Etymology: OFr merite < L meritum < meritus, pp. of merere, to deserve, earn, akin to mereri, to serve for hire < IE base *(s)mer-, to remember, care (hence provide for, allot a share to) > mourn, L memor, mora, Gr meros, a part, moira, lot, fate

transitive verb

to deserve; be worthy of

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms merit idiom

law merit definition - legal

merit Synonyms

merit

n.

  1. Worth

    credit, benefit, advantage; see quality 3, value 3.

  2. A creditable quality

    worthiness, excellence, honor; see character 2, virtue 1.


merit

v.

be worth, warrant, justify; see deserve.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

merit Usage Examples

Object

  • consideration: Two broad options merit further consideration, says Ofcom.

Converse of object

  • assess: All sites are visited by the case officer in order to assess the merits of the proposals.

Adjective modifier

  • relative: Relative merits of how good the the uk register.

Modifies a noun

  • indices: The effect of porosity on thermal shock resistance is also explored, and merit indices for thermal fatigue are derived.

Noun used with modifier

  • townscape: Nearly all the town is within designated conservation areas and many buildings are of townscape merit.

Preposition: of

  • simplicity: This certainly has the merit of simplicity in method and results.
merit usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

merit quotes

   Merit and good works is the end of man's motion, and conscience of the same is the accomplishment of man's rest.

-Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans

He that hath wife and children hath given hostages to fortune; for theyare impediments to great enterprises, eitherof virtue or mischief.Certainly thebest works, and ofgreatest meritfor thepublic, haveproceededfromthe unmarried or childless men, which both in affection and means have married and endowed the public.

-Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans

The man that hails youTom or Jack, And proves by thumps upon your back How he esteems your merit, Is such a friend, that one had need Be very much his friend indeed To pardon or to bear it.

-Cowper,William

merit quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"merit." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/merit>

APA Style

merit. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/merit

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