de·mer·it 
/dɪˈmerət/ noun
plural de·mer·its /dɪˈmerət/ noun [count] 1 US : a mark that is made on the school record of a student who has done something wrong
▪ Students are given demerits if they arrive late for classes. 2 formal : a bad quality in something or someone : a feature or part of something or someone that is unpleasant — usually plural ▪ The demerits of that job outweigh the benefits. ▪ We considered both the merits and demerits of the plan.
▪ Students are given demerits if they arrive late for classes.
