downgrade

American  

[doun-greyd] / ˈdaʊnˌgreɪd /

noun

1. a downward slope, especially of a road.

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adjective

1. downhill.

verb (used with object)

downgraded, downgrading

1. to assign to a lower status with a smaller salary.

2. to minimize the importance of; denigrate.

   She tried to downgrade the findings of the investigation.

3. to assign a lower security classification to (information, a document, etc.).

idioms

1. on the downgrade, in a decline toward an inferior state or position.

   His career has been on the downgrade.

downgrade British  

/ ˈdaʊnˌɡreɪd /

verb

1. to reduce in importance, esteem, or value, esp to demote (a person) to a poorer job

2. to speak of disparagingly

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noun

1. a downward slope, esp in a road

2. waning in importance, popularity, health, etc

Other Word Forms

• downgrader noun

Etymology

Origin of downgrade

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; down ¹ + grade

Example Sentences

The company declined to comment on the downgrade.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

The UK's downgrade of half a percentage point is the largest of the world's advanced economies, with the UK now earmarked to have middling growth this year compared to its peers.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

With the latest downgrade, fewer than half of the analysts who cover Nike are still bullish on the stock, according to FactSet data.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

The IMF chief signalled in her opening remarks that the Fund would downgrade its global growth forecast due to the war, and she had a stark warning:

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

She stood on the slight downgrade of her front lawn, with the low, glaring, late afternoon sun at her back.

From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger

Related Words

• degrade
• demote
• devalue
• reduce
• undervalue