demote

IPA/diːˈməʊt/
KK[dɪmˈot]IPA/diːˈməʊt/

demote — verb

  • demotepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • demoteshe / she / it
  • demotedpast simple
  • demoting-ing form

1. to move a person or thing to a job, level, or place with less power or importanc

1.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to move a person or thing to a job, level, or place with less power or importance, often because of poor performance or a problem

Example

After the safety report, the airline demoted Noor from captain to first officer.

demote + person + from + old role + to + new role

The editor was demoted to proofreader after missing three major errors.

passive: be demoted to [lower role]

Common collocations
  • demote to assistant manager
  • demote from captain to first officer
  • be demoted after an investigation
  • demote to the bench
  • demote for misconduct
Synonyms
  • downgrade

    broader; it can describe status, quality, or service, not only rank

  • relegate

    more formal; often stresses being pushed into a less important place

  • lower

    plain and general; less specific than demote in job contexts

Antonyms
  • promote

    to move someone to a higher position or rank

  • elevate

    more formal; to raise status or rank

Grammar Patterns

demote + person/thing + to + lower role

be demoted + to + lower role

demote + person + from + role + to + role

Usage Note

Often appears with from ... to ... when both the higher and lower positions are named. It is common in workplace and sports settings and usually suggests punishment, weak results, or a loss of trust.

Common Mistakes

The manager demoted Eve as cashier.
The manager demoted Eve to cashier.
Use 'to' before the lower job title.
Rafael demoted after the investigation.
Rafael was demoted after the investigation.
Use the passive form when the person moved down is the subject.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

'Demote' is the normal verb for moving a person to a lower job or rank while they still stay inside the same organisation. 'Downgrade' is broader, since it can also describe a ticket, service, or product that is moved to a lower level. 'Relegate' is more formal and often stresses pushing someone or something into a less important place. 'Dismiss' is stronger because the person loses the job completely instead of staying in a reduced role. A company can demote a supervisor to assistant manager, while a football coach can demote a player to the bench without removing that player from the team.

demote ↗downgrade ↗relegatedismiss ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • be demoted to a lower role
  • demote someone for misconduct
  • demote someone after poor performance

Prepositions

  • to
  • from ... to ...

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Built in English from the prefix 'de-', meaning 'down', and the idea seen in 'promote'. It keeps the contrast with promotion: instead of moving someone up, it means moving them down in rank or importance.

First known use

1872

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1