disservice

noun

dis·​ser·​vice (ˌ)di(s)-ˈsər-vəs 

: ill service : harm

also : an unhelpful, unkind, or harmful act

misinformation that does a disservice to readers

Synonyms

• inequity
• injury
• injustice
• raw deal
• shaft
• unfairness
• unjustness
• wrong

Examples of disservice in a Sentence

Her comments were a disservice to those volunteers.

you do a great disservice to the professionals at the day-care center when you refer to them as “babysitters”

Recent Examples on the Web

Anything less not only does a disservice to the psychologists and the courts but also fails the youth whose futures depend on these evaluations. —Philip Caldwell, Baltimore Sun, 12 Jan. 2025

The Missed Opportunity in Silence Failing to seek feedback after rejection is a disservice to your career growth. —Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025

But are those teams doing a disservice to players by promoting them too quickly? —Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025

Their coverage style is doing the league a disservice. —Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

disservice

noun

dis·​ser·​vice (ˈ)dis-ˈ(s)ər-vəs 

: an unhelpful, unkind, or harmful act

behavior that did a disservice to the sport