# meritorious

/ˌmɛɹəˈtɔɹiəs/ (US) · /mˌɛɹɪtˈɔːɹɪəs/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/meritorious
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

deserving of praise or reward because you did something good or worked very hard. It describes actions or people that are worthy of recognition.

For teachers: deserving of praise, reward, or recognition; worthy of credit or commendation. Often used in formal or legal contexts to describe actions that are justified or beneficial.

## Examples

- The committee awarded the meritorious student a special scholarship.
- The judge noted that the defendant's meritorious defense had prevented a much harsher sentence.
- The university established a new award to recognize meritorious service among its faculty, encouraging those who go above and beyond their teaching duties to apply.

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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.