Noun

(en noun)

(senseid) A quality of being inadequate; a fault; a disadvantage

* Burke

They see no merit or demerit in any man or any action.

* Sir W. Temple

Secure, unless forfeited by any demerit or offense.

A mark given for bad conduct to a person attending an educational institution or serving in the army.

*2002 , , by G.W.Bush:

*:A few of you have followed in the path of the perfect West Point graduate, Robert E. Lee, who never received a single demerit' in four years. Some of you followed in the path of the imperfect graduate, Ulysses S. Grant, who had his fair share of ' demerits , and said the happiest day of his life was "the day I left West Point." (Laughter.)

That which one merits or deserves, either of good or ill; desert.

* Holland

By many benefits and demerits whereby they obliged their adherents, [they] acquired this reputation.

Noun

(uncountable) The condition of being weak.

(countable) An inadequate quality; fault

* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)

, chapter=20 citation , passage=The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen. No one queried it. It was in the classic pattern of human weakness , mean and embarrassing and sad.}}

* {{quote-news, year=2013, date=January 22, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC

, title= Aston Villa 2-1 Bradford (3-4) , passage=Bradford had preyed on Villa's inability to defend set pieces, corners in particular, in their first-leg win and took advantage of the weakness again as Hanson equalised to restore their two-goal aggregate lead.}}

(countable) A special fondness or desire.