What does disrepute mean?
Disrepute is a formal noun meaning the state of having lost public respect or a good reputation. When a person, institution, profession, or practice falls into disrepute, it has become widely viewed with distrust, contempt, or disapproval. The word is most often encountered in set expressions such as 'bring something into disrepute' — as when a scandal tarnishes a governing body's image — or 'fall into disrepute', describing a gradual decline in public standing. It appears almost exclusively in formal registers: journalism, official reports, legal and professional contexts. Unlike stronger terms such as disgrace or infamy, disrepute suggests reputational damage without necessarily implying moral guilt on the part of everyone involved. Its opposite is repute or good repute. The word derives from the Latin 'reputare', meaning to reckon or think over, via Old French, entering English around the early seventeenth century. It remains a precise, useful term for discussing how credibility and public trust are won and lost.
nounThe state of being held in low esteem by the public; loss of good reputation. Something in disrepute is generally regarded as disreputable, dishonourable, or no longer respected.
- Loss or absence of good reputation; the state of being held in low public esteem.
"The scandal brought the entire institution into disrepute."
"Years of financial mismanagement had reduced the once-proud firm to disrepute."
"Doping scandals have brought the sport into serious disrepute among its fans."
Disrepute is what happens when your reputation doesn't just slip — it collapses: the Latin root 'computare', to reckon up, means people literally stop counting you as respectable.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of disrepute
Disrepute comes from the prefix 'dis-' (expressing negation) combined with 'repute', from Latin 'reputare', meaning to reckon over or reflect upon. The word entered English in the early seventeenth century, when 'repute' itself already meant general estimation or reputation. It shares this Latin root with 'reputation', 'refute', and 'impute'.
Related word forms
How disrepute is actually used
Disrepute is an uncountable noun used almost exclusively in formal writing and speech. It typically appears in fixed phrases such as 'bring into disrepute' or 'fall into disrepute', usually describing institutions, professions, or practices rather than individuals. It carries a strong negative connotation but is more measured than words like disgrace or infamy.
Easily confused with disrepute
Disrespect is a lack of regard or courtesy shown toward someone, while disrepute is the state of having lost public good standing.