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

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

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

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

Since regulations required that department heads be colonels, not generals, Lincoln even took a demotion in his rank and was never again promoted.

From Slate • Feb. 9, 2026

The eighth victory in any tournament is therefore critical, the difference between promotion and demotion; it is roughly four times as valuable in the rankings as the typical victory.

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt