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n. 1. a. Superior quality or worth; excellence: a proposal of some merit; an ill-advised plan without merit. b. A quality deserving praise or approval; virtue: a store having the merit of being open late. 2. Demonstrated ability or achievement: promotions based on merit alone. 3. often merits An aspect of character or behavior deserving approval or disapproval: judging people according to their merits. 4. In various religions, spiritual credit granted for good works. 5. merits a. Law The factors to be considered in making a substantive decision in a case, independent of procedural or technical aspects: a trial on the merits. b. The factual content of a matter, apart from emotional, contextual, or formal considerations. v. mer·it·ed, mer·it·ing, mer·its v.tr. To earn; deserve. See Synonyms at earn. v.intr. To be worthy or deserving: Pupils are rewarded or corrected, as they merit. [Middle English, from Old French merite, reward or punishment, from Latin meritum, from neuter past participle of merēre, to deserve; see (s)mer-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] merit·less adj. |
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