disadvantage

American  

[dis-uhd-van-tij, -vahn-] / ˌdɪs ədˈvæn tɪdʒ, -ˈvɑn- /

noun

1. absence or deprivation of advantage or equality.

   Synonyms:

   hindrance, inconvenience, drawback

2. the state or an instance of being in an unfavorable circumstance or condition.

   to be at a disadvantage.

3. something that puts one in an unfavorable position or condition.

   His bad temper is a disadvantage.

4. injury to interest, reputation, credit, profit, etc.; loss.

   Your behavior is a disadvantage to your family's good name.

   Synonyms:

   damage, harm, hurt, detriment

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verb (used with object)

disadvantaged, disadvantaging

1. to subject to disadvantage.

   I was disadvantaged by illness.

disadvantage British  

/ ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪdʒ /

noun

1. an unfavourable circumstance, state of affairs, thing, person, etc

2. injury, loss, or detriment

3. an unfavourable condition or situation (esp in the phrase at a disadvantage )

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verb

1. (tr) to put at a disadvantage; handicap

Etymology

Origin of disadvantage

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English disavauntage, from Anglo-French; Old French desavantage; equivalent to dis- ¹ + advantage

Example Sentences

“We need products to sell interesting things for our shoppers to browse through. So without more content, it’s a disadvantage.”

From Los Angeles Times

The British Chamber of Commerce's president, Andy Haldane, told the BBC: "The perversity of what happened of the weekend was that those who got good deals, the allies, have been most disadvantaged."

From BBC

Under its proposed reforms, the government said it is also planning to halve the attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers in England by the time children born in this Parliament finish secondary school.

From BBC

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the reforms will help end the "one-size-fits-all system" which she says has "denied" children from disadvantaged backgrounds the same success as their peers.

From BBC

“Now, so many kids are holding back that if you don’t do a holdback it’s a disadvantage,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• detriment
• harm
• prejudice