demotion

[dih-moh-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or process of reducing to a lower grade, rank, class, or position, or the result of such a reduction.

   The committee is charged with hearing employee appeals and addressing complaints regarding suspension, demotion, layoff, or termination of employment.

   The company’s bad quarter resulted in a further demotion of their overall rating from C+ to C.

Word History and Origins

Origin of demotion¹

de- + (pro)motion

Example Sentences

But as it turns out, the demotion wasn’t complete.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The demotion could, however, take the oxygen out of those who criticize the palace for being too lenient in their treatment of Andrew, royal watchers say.

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Neither investigation resulted in sanctions, but judges said that, in combination with the firings and demotions, the probes conveyed a chilling message that Newby would punish those who crossed him.

Read more on Salon

The demotion is unprecedented in scale for the House of Windsor.

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The Hoops have amassed 13 titles in the last 14 years during a miserable era for Rangers since their demotion to the fourth tier of Scottish football after going bust in 2012.

Read more on Barron's