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

Vance, in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity that aired Monday evening, said European allies were doing Ukraine a disservice by not pressing Zelenskyy to find an endgame to the war. —Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 4 Mar. 2025

My grandmother's story seems unremarkable, but to take her story at face value would do a disservice to her struggles as an Assyrian. —Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025

Mollycoddling teaches them nothing of value and is actually a real disservice to them. —Erin Clack, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025

This does children a disservice, Gherson says, as fewer are allowed to even try the position. —James Mirtle, The Athletic, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disservice

• preservice
• interservice
• nervous
• nervus

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