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

Perpetuating the low performance of Kentucky’s education system is a disservice to our children and our Commonwealth. —Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 5 Nov. 2024

Without discounting the stellar work that many guidance counselors and educators are doing at the tactical level, the systemic issues in our whole philosophy of high school are doing young people a disservice. —Mark C. Perna, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Brady’s inability to criticize officials and teams is also a disservice to fans. —Sean Gregory, TIME, 17 Oct. 2024

But in being so black and white on failure, leaders are doing their companies a disservice. —Jalie Cohen, Forbes, 17 Oct. 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