demote

verb

de·​mote di-ˈmōt 

ˌdē-

demoted; demoting

transitive verb

1

: to reduce to a lower grade or rank

demote a student

was demoted from major to captain

2

: to relegate to a less important position

a pitcher demoted to the bullpen

demotion

di-ˈmō-shən 

ˌdē-

noun

Synonyms

• break
• bust
• degrade
• disrate
• downgrade
• reduce

Examples of demote in a Sentence

Teachers can choose to demote a student to a lower grade.

The army major was demoted to captain.

Recent Examples on the Web

Trouba has struggled this season with just six points in 24 games and was demoted to a third-pair defenseman. —Ryan Canfield, Fox News, 6 Dec. 2024

Some in Trump's orbit have floated the idea of demoting or firing Barr, which could lead to a disruptive legal battle. —Courtenay Brown, Axios, 4 Dec. 2024

The top form comes six months after avoiding relegation with 40 points in 2023/24; that tally wasn’t enough to save Real Valladolid from being demoted the season prior. —Henry Flynn, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024

The post commander at West Branch, 1st Lt. Jeff Short, who was a former assistant post commander in Flint under Brantley accused of participating in the cheating, was demoted to trooper. —Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

de- + -mote (as in promote)

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

demote

verb

de·​mote di-ˈmōt 

ˈdē-

demoted; demoting

: to reduce to a lower grade or rank

demotion

di-ˈmō-shən 

ˈdē-

noun