- [uncountable] (formal) the quality of being good and of deserving praise or reward synonym worth
- a work of outstanding artistic merit
- without merit The plan is entirely without merit.
- on merit I want to get the job on merit.
- He was awarded a certificate of merit for his piano playing.
Extra Examples- Films are given a rating of one to five stars according to merit.
- I can see no merit in excluding the child from school.
- Prizes are awarded entirely on merit.
- She proved her merit as a serious actress.
- She was elected on personal merit.
- The winners are ranked in order of merit.
- There is lots of merit to the idea.
- There is some merit in his argument.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- exceptional
- great
- …
- have
- argue
- assess
- …
- award
- badge
- pay
- …
- according to merit
- on merit
- merit in
- …
- no merit in something/doing something
- order of merit
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- [countable, usually plural] a good feature that deserves praise or reward synonym 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.
Extra Examples- I began to question the merits of these new technologies.
- We need to assess the merits of both proposals before making our decision.
- Whatever the artist's individual merits, he really can't compete with the great painters.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- exceptional
- great
- …
- have
- argue
- assess
- …
- award
- badge
- pay
- …
- according to merit
- on merit
- merit in
- …
- no merit in something/doing something
- order of merit
- [countable] (British English) a grade in an exam or for a piece of work at school or university that is very good compare distinction (5)Topics Educationc2Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
- considerable
- exceptional
- great
- …
- have
- argue
- assess
- …
- award
- badge
- pay
- …
- according to merit
- on merit
- merit in
- …
- no merit in something/doing something
- order of merit
- [countable] (British English) a special mark or award given as a reward for good behaviour at school
- Other schools already have merit systems in place that reward good behaviour and attitudes.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- considerable
- exceptional
- great
- …
- have
- argue
- assess
- …
- award
- badge
- pay
- …
- according to merit
- on merit
- merit in
- …
- no merit in something/doing something
- order of merit
Word OriginMiddle English (originally in the sense ‘deserved reward or punishment’): via Old French from Latin meritum ‘due reward’, from mereri ‘earn, deserve’.
Check pronunciation:
merit