What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dismerit
Example
His dismerit was his tendency to be dishonest. [dismerit: noun]
Example
She was discredited by the dismerit of her past mistakes. [dismerit: noun]
demerit
Example
He received a demerit for being late to class. [demerit: noun]
Example
Her demerits at work led to her termination. [demerits: plural noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Demerit is more commonly used than dismerit in modern language. Demerit is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while dismerit is less common and may be considered archaic or outdated.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dismerit and demerit?
Both dismerit and demerit can be used in formal or informal contexts, but demerit is more commonly used and may be considered more formal than dismerit.