demotion

American  

[dih-moh-shuhn] / dɪˈmoʊ ʃən /

noun

• demotions
  plural

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.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• demotions
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of demotion

de- + (pro)motion

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Explanation

A demotion is when your rank or position is lowered by a superior. In the military, disobeying orders could result in a demotion. In the military — as well as other careers — people usually move up the ladder with time, rising through the ranks. When your superiors bring you up to a higher level, that's called a promotion, like an assistant manager becoming a manager. However, if you're a manager and you get bumped back to assistant manager, that's a demotion. Demotions occur when someone has broken the rules or has done a poor job. Demotions usually come with a reduction in pay too.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

demotion demotions

Barberie was let go four months later after declining a demotion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

However, all three will be aware that in both of the past two seasons a team relegated from the top tier has suffered a second successive demotion to League One.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

It added sites which were penalised but then fixed the issue could submit a request to Google to have the demotion reconsidered.

From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026

Some administration officials viewed the move as a demotion of sorts for Sacks, moving him further from meaningful AI policy decisions, people familiar with the matter said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026

With the demotion of Nick to our ranks, the peaceful interlude began to slip away, and my life once more became complicated, filled with anxiety and finally danger.

From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood

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.

From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2025

The UC Academic Senate takes the lead in reviewing faculty misconduct cases and can recommend sanctions, including written censure, salary reductions, demotions, suspensions without pay or dismissal.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 23, 2025

In the first week of May, the Chinese scientist who first published a sequence of the COVID-19 virus protested authorities barring him from his lab, after years of demotions and setbacks.

From Seattle Times ● May 21, 2024

After a post has been flagged by one of the independent fact-checkers, users will be able to lower or maintain the level of demotions on a post.

From Washington Times ● Dec. 13, 2023

And while Cathay Pacific rehired dozens of pilots from the shuttered Cathay Dragon division in 2021 and 2022, many had to take pay cuts and demotions when accepting their offers.

From New York Times ● May 29, 2023

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