relegation

American  

[rel-i-gay-shuhn] / ˌrɛl ɪˈgeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. assignment or banishment to an inferior position, place, rank, or condition.

   Many factors are responsible for the relegation of disabled people to the margins of society.

   The pending legislation shows the relegation of environmental concerns toward the bottom of the priority list in energy politics.

2. Soccer. demotion to a lower playing league or division based on a team’s record.

   The European leagues are a meritocratic hierarchy connected by promotion and relegation.

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Etymology

Origin of relegation

First recorded in 1400–50; from Latin relēgātiōn-, stem of relēgātiō “a sending away, banishment”; see relegate ( def. ), -ion ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

relegation

When Vitor Matos took charge of Swansea in November 2025, concerns around a potential relegation were on people's lips.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Could they otherwise have been involved in relegation battles?

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Jack Rudoni's penalty, Sidiki Cherif's first Sky Blues goal and late strikes from Ellis Simms and Stephen Mfuni lifted them out of the relegation zone in style.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

Yet they now sit in the third tier after entering administration and enduring relegation last season, before a US consortium bought the club in May.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

The punishment of relegation was not long in favour, the number of sentences to it fell year after year, and it has now been practically abandoned.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 2 "Demijohn" to "Destructor" by Various

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Related Words

• banishment
• discharge
• displacement
• ejection
• eviction
• exclusion
• ouster
• purge
• removal
• suspension

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