# merit

/ˈmɛɹət/ (US) · /mˈɛɹɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/merit
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. quality or worth

noun · CEFR B2

the quality of being good and deserving praise.

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

- The committee will judge each application on its own merit.
- The artistic merit of the painting was debated by critics, though none could deny the technical skill involved in its creation.

### 2. legal facts

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

the actual facts or rightness of a case, rather than technical rules.

For teachers: the substantive rightness or wrongness of a legal argument or case, distinguished from procedural or technical matters.

- The judge decided to hear the case on its merits rather than dismissing it on a technicality.
- Counsel argued that the court should focus on the merits of the appeal rather than the minor procedural errors made during the initial filing.

Usage: Usually used in the plural form 'the merits'.

### 3. spiritual credit

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the good things a person does that help them in their next life.

For teachers: the accumulation of positive karma or spiritual credit resulting from good deeds.

- In many traditions, helping others is a way to gain spiritual merit.
- The monk explained that the accumulation of merit through selfless service is essential for progress toward enlightenment.

### 4. to deserve

verb · CEFR B2

to deserve something because of your qualities or actions.

For teachers: to be worthy of or deserve a particular treatment, reward, or attention.

- The new evidence is important enough to merit a second look at the case.
- The proposal was considered sufficiently innovative to merit a full investigation by the research and development department.

Usage: Transitive verb; takes a direct object.

## Examples

- The committee will judge each application on its own merit.
- The promotion was based entirely on professional merit rather than how long the employee had worked there.
- While the proposal was initially dismissed for its high cost, several board members argued that its long-term environmental merit justified the investment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.