demotion

American  

[dih-moh-shuhn] / dɪˈmoʊ ʃən /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of demotion

de- + (pro)motion

Example Sentences

Bovino’s apparent demotion came after he made demonstrably false claims that Pretti was aiming to kill federal agents.

From Salon • Mar. 5, 2026

Other workers would face demotion, pay cuts and new jobs in different places.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026

Knowing that a refereeing career can end swiftly with injury or demotion, many would not wish to give up their more reliable day jobs, he said.

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

His Saracens team-mate Maro Itoje took on the role in 2025 and George, clearly frustrated by the demotion, considered ending his Test career.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

Under normal circumstances, his demotion would have given Strauss an opening to lobby against the test ban; but Eisenhower was losing patience with Strauss, too, largely because of his intransigence on that very topic.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik