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demote

[ dih-moht ]
/ dɪˈmoʊt /
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See synonyms for: demote / demoted / demotes on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), de·mot·ed, de·mot·ing.
to reduce to a lower grade, rank, class, or position (opposed to promote): They demoted the careless waiter to busboy.
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Origin of demote

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; de- + (pro)mote

OTHER WORDS FROM demote

de·mo·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use demote in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for demote

demote
/ (dɪˈməʊt) /

verb
(tr) to lower in rank or position; relegate

Derived forms of demote

demotion, noun

Word Origin for demote

C19: from de- + (pro) mote
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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