Merit: meaning, definitions and examples

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merit

 

[ ˈmerɪt ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

achievement

the quality of being particularly good or worthy, especially so as to deserve praise or reward

Synonyms

excellence, virtue, worthiness

Examples of usage

  • He has a strong sense of merit.
  • Her hard work and dedication earned her the merit she deserves.
  • The award was given based on merit.
Context #2 | Noun

academic evaluation

a mark awarded in an examination, assignment, or course as an indication of the quality of the work done

Synonyms

grade, rating, score

Examples of usage

  • She received a high merit in her essay.
  • The students were graded based on their merits.
Context #3 | Verb

deserve

to be worthy or deserving of

Synonyms

deserve, earn, warrant

Examples of usage

  • She merits our attention.
  • His actions merit praise.

Translations

Translations of the word "merit" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mérito

🇮🇳 योग्यता

🇩🇪 Verdienst

🇮🇩 merit

🇺🇦 заслуга

🇵🇱 zaleta

🇯🇵 メリット

🇫🇷 mérite

🇪🇸 mérito

🇹🇷 liyakat

🇰🇷 공로

🇸🇦 ميزة

🇨🇿 zásluha

🇸🇰 zásluha

🇨🇳 优点

🇸🇮 zasluga

🇮🇸 verðleiki

🇰🇿 құндылық

🇬🇪 დამსახურება

🇦🇿 ləyaqət

🇲🇽 mérito

Etymology

The word 'merit' originated from the Latin word 'meritum', meaning 'what one deserves'. It has been used in English since the 15th century. The concept of merit has been fundamental in various fields such as education, employment, and awards, where individuals are recognized and rewarded based on their achievements and qualities. The idea of meritocracy, a system where advancement is based on merit, has been both praised for promoting fairness and criticized for perpetuating inequality.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,432, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.