disadvantages

disadvantages — noun

1. a feature or part of a situation that makes success or progress more difficult c

1.名詞B2
釋義

a feature or part of a situation that makes success or progress more difficult compared to other options or people — for example, a location far from transport links, or a lack of certain skills that other candidates have.

例句

The biggest disadvantage of working from home is that you miss casual conversations with colleagues.

collocation: disadvantage of + gerund

Living in a small town has many benefits, but poor public transport is a real disadvantage.

同義詞
  • drawback

    more informal; often used for a specific negative aspect of something mostly positive

  • downside

    informal; highlights the negative side of a situation that otherwise seems attractive

  • weakness

    broader; can refer to a personal flaw or a structural limitation, not necessarily comparative

反義詞
  • advantage

    direct opposite; a condition that helps success

  • benefit

    focuses on positive outcomes rather than positional advantage

文法句型

disadvantage of something

disadvantage to someone

disadvantage in doing something

用法筆記

Often paired with 'of' to name the source (the disadvantage of city life) or 'to' to name who is affected (a disadvantage to commuters). 'serious / major / real' are common intensifiers.

常見錯誤

❌The disadvantage of the plan is time-consuming.
✅The disadvantage of the plan is that it is time-consuming.
💡After 'disadvantage is', use a that-clause or a noun phrase, not a bare adjective.
❌There is many disadvantages to this method.
✅There are many disadvantages to this method.
💡'disadvantages' is plural, so use 'are' not 'is'.

2. in a situation where you have a lower chance of succeeding or competing fairly c

2.名詞B1
釋義

in a situation where you have a lower chance of succeeding or competing fairly compared to others — for example, playing a sport with fewer players, or applying for a job without the required qualifications.

例句

Children who start school without knowing the local language are at a clear disadvantage.

fixed phrase: be at a disadvantage

The visiting team was at a disadvantage after their captain was injured early in the game.

同義詞
  • in a weaker position

    more explicit but less idiomatic; used in formal writing

  • at a loss

    different register; implies confusion or not knowing what to do, not just a lower chance of success

反義詞

文法句型

be at a disadvantage

put someone at a disadvantage

用法筆記

This sense only appears within the fixed phrase 'at a disadvantage'. 'put/place someone at a disadvantage' is a common collocation. The phrase is usually followed by 'compared to' or a clause starting with 'when' or 'because'.

常見錯誤

❌He is disadvantage compared to others.
✅He is at a disadvantage compared to others.
💡The preposition 'at a' is required before 'disadvantage' in this fixed expression.
❌This method puts disadvantage on students.
✅This method puts students at a disadvantage.
💡Use 'put someone at a disadvantage', not 'put disadvantage on someone'.

disadvantages — verb