downgrade

[doun-greyd]

noun

1. a downward slope, especially of a road.

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.).

downgrade

/ ˈdaʊnˌɡreɪd /

verb

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

2. to speak of disparagingly

noun

1. a downward slope, esp in a road

2. waning in importance, popularity, health, etc

Other Word Forms

• downgrader noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of downgrade¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

   His career has been on the downgrade.

Example Sentences

The prime minister insisted there was "no misleading", pointing to downgraded forecasts for economic productivity which he said meant the government had £16bn less than it otherwise would have had.

Read more on BBC

Those who lose out might be at risk of downgrades to their credit ratings if their future cash flow doesn’t keep up with debt they have issued.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Reports in the run-up to the Budget had suggested the chancellor could have faced a £20bn gap in meeting her tax and spending rules as a result of the OBR's productivity downgrade.

Read more on BBC

Saudi jets could be equipped with downgraded avionics, reduced flight performance or range, limited weapons packages, hidden IFF transmitters and so forth.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The chancellor had repeatedly suggested a downgrade to the UK's predicted economic productivity would make it hard to meet her spending rules.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• degrade 
• demote 
• devalue 
• reduce 
• undervalue