Demerit (noun)

1. A quality or action that is deserving of blame or censure; a fault or failing.
2. A negative or undesirable characteristic.

Origin:

From french démérite, from latin demeritus, from de- + mereri ("to ear.n")

Examples:

1. The employee's poor attitude was a demerit that led to his dismissal.
2. The company's lack of environmental responsibility was a demerit in the eyes of consumers.
3. The student's poor test scores were a demerit that affected his overall grade.
4. The car's poor gas mileage was a demerit that made it less desirable to buyers.
5. The candidate's lack of experience was a demerit that was taken into consideration.