Disrepute

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /dɪsɹɪˈpjuːt/

Definitions

1. A state of having lost public respect or good reputation due to dishonorable or shameful actions
2. The condition in which someone's or something's good name is damaged or degraded in the eyes of others
3. The situation where trust and positive regard have been diminished as a result of unfavorable behavior

Etymology: The most useful thing to know about "disrepute" is how plain its construction is: it is "dis-" attached to "repute," and "repute" itself comes from Latin "reputare," meaning "to think over" or "to reckon." The prefix "dis-" carries the sense of reversal or removal, so the whole word means that the reckoning has gone against someone, and the good opinion once held of them has been taken away. The prefix has a longer road into English than the word it attaches to. It descends from a Proto-Italic form and reached English through Latin "dis-" and Old French "des-," which is why English has many words built the same way. "Repute" entered English from French, and "disrepute" was formed by English speakers on that foundation, so the word is a combination of two inherited parts rather than a single borrowing.

Synonyms: dishonor, shame

Antonyms: reputation, honor