relegate
REL-uh-gayt
/ˈrel.ɪ.ɡeɪt/
To dismiss to an inferior rank, position, or place.
Implies a demotion or a pushing aside of someone or something to a lower, less important status or location.
The story behind the word. Relegate comes from the Latin 'relegatus', the past participle of 'relegare', which means 'to send away' or 'dispatch'. In Roman law, 'relegatio' was actually a milder form of exile where a citizen was ordered to leave Rome and live in a specific remote province, but unlike harsher exile, they kept their property and citizenship.
Word relationships
- demote: Demote is used specifically for job ranks and salaries, while relegate is broader and can refer to abstract ideas, roles, or sports divisions.
- downgrade: Downgrade refers to lowering the quality, value, or status of something, whereas relegate emphasizes the act of sending it away to an inferior place.
- promote: To promote is to raise someone to a higher rank or position, the exact opposite of relegating them.
- elevate: To elevate is to lift up or raise to a higher status or level.
Commonly confused with
- delegate: Delegate means to entrust a task or responsibility to another person, while relegate means to dismiss someone to a lower position.
Word family
- relegation (noun): The transfer of a sports team or individual to a lower division or rank.
- relegated (adjective): Dismissed to an inferior position.
Collocations
- relegate to a minor role
- relegate to the background
- relegated to the bench
Example sentences
- "After the merger, the former vice president was relegated to a minor advisory role with no real decision-making power." A discussion of corporate restructuring.
- "If the soccer team loses their next match, they will be relegated to the lower division for the upcoming season." A sports context regarding league standings.
Memory hook
Think of 're-gate'—you are sent back to the gate and not allowed into the main arena, relegated to the sidelines. Sent back to the gate.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to physical banishment from a country (use banish or exile), unless referring specifically to Roman history.
Fun facts
- In European soccer leagues, the bottom-performing teams at the end of the season face 'relegation,' meaning they are physically moved down to a lower league, while the top teams from that lower league are 'promoted.'
Related words
Explore more words
subordinate, marginalized, devolve, delegate, marginalize, disparage
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.