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 trust's maternity units were downgraded from "good" to "inadequate" earlier this year, after unannounced inspections raised concerns that women and babies were "at risk of avoidable harm".

Read more on BBC

Monday’s “excess exuberance” also drove Wells Fargo analyst Timna Tanners to downgrade the shares to Sell from Hold.

Read more on Barron's

The downgrade comes after Goldman’s investment-banking business bested Wall Street’s highest estimates in the third quarter, although its equities business disappointed.

Read more on MarketWatch

Rivian Automotive was downgraded to Underperform from Neutral at Mizuho with the analysts citing with slowing EV demand as credit for purchasing an electric vehicle expire.

Read more on Barron's

The bank’s stock was also pressured lower by rating agency S&P Global’s downgrade of France’s credit score, after a similar move by Fitch Ratings last month.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• degrade 
• demote 
• devalue 
• reduce 
• undervalue