relegation

[rel-i-gey-shuhn]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of relegation¹

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

Example Sentences

First up is a visit from Greece, who return to Hampden on Thursday seven months after consigning the Scots to Nations League relegation in a classy three-goal win.

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Both will be grateful there is no automatic relegation.

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Though it is still early days of the campaign, the club - who qualified for Europe last season - are just a point above the relegation zone.

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The club had been dubbed the richest in the world by outsiders, but the reality on the ground was rather different as they battled relegation.

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With the club's relegation, it was composed as a requiem, Alexander confirms.

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Related Words

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