Word
disservice
Phoneticsdis·ser·vice, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈsɝvəs/
UK/dɪsˈɜːvɪs/
Definition
n. the act of helping someone or something to fail or be harmed. You use this when you do something that makes a situation worse than it already is.
n. the act of causing a person or thing to suffer harm or failure. Often used in the phrase 'do a disservice to', indicating that an action or statement has a negative impact on the subject.
Examples
“The poor quality of the translation did a disservice to the original book.”
“By ignoring the safety warnings, the company did a great disservice to its customers and its own reputation.”
“The hasty publication of the report did a disservice to the research team's years of effort, as the findings were misinterpreted by the media before they could be properly explained.”
Examples
simple
“The poor quality of the translation did a disservice to the original book.”
contextual
“By ignoring the safety warnings, the company did a great disservice to its customers and its own reputation.”
complex
“The hasty publication of the report did a disservice to the research team's years of effort, as the findings were misinterpreted by the media before they could be properly explained.”
Real-World Examples
“And it’s a tragedy that the real and necessary objectives of diversity, equity and inclusion have been done a gross disservice by Cambridge University’s cynical tokenism.” “Sometimes I do myself a disservice by not asking for what I need.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/disservice