/ ˈmerɪt; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
[ U ] ( formal ) the quality of being good and of deserving praise, reward or admiration
SYN worth :
a work of outstanding artistic merit
The plan is entirely without merit.
I want to get the job on merit .
2.
[ C , usually pl. ] a good feature that deserves praise, reward or admiration
SYN strength :
We will consider each case on its (own) merits (= without considering any other issues, feelings, etc.) .
They weighed up the relative merits of the four candidates.
3.
[ C ] ( BrE ) a mark / grade in an exam or for a piece of work at school or university which is excellent
4.
[ C ] ( BrE ) a mark / grade given as a reward for good behaviour at school
■ verb
(not used in the progressive tenses) ( formal ) to do sth to deserve praise, attention, etc.
SYN deserve :
[ vn ]
He claims that their success was not merited.
The case does not merit further investigation.
[also v -ing ]
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (originally in the sense deserved reward or punishment ): via Old French from Latin meritum due reward, from mereri earn, deserve.