relegate

American  

[rel-i-geyt] / ˈrɛl ɪˌgeɪt /

verb (used with object)

relegated, relegating

1. to send or consign to an inferior position, place, or condition.

   He has been relegated to a post at the fringes of the diplomatic service.

2. to consign or commit (a matter, task, etc.), as to a person.

   He relegates the less pleasant tasks to his assistant.

   Synonyms:

   entrust, consign, assign

3. to assign or refer (something) to a particular class or kind.

4. to send into exile; banish.

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relegate British  

/ ˈrɛlɪˌɡeɪt /

verb

1. to move to a position of less authority, importance, etc; demote

2. (usually passive) to demote (a football team, etc) to a lower division

3. to assign or refer (a matter) to another or others, as for action or decision

4. (foll by to) to banish or exile

5. to assign (something) to a particular group or category

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Other Word Forms

• relegable adjective
• relegatable adjective
• relegation noun
• unrelegable adjective

Etymology

Origin of relegate

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English from Latin relēgātus, past participle of relēgāre “to send away, dispatch”; re-, legate

Example Sentences

West Ham were relegated in 1992, but the club kept faith with Bonds and he brought them back into the new Premier League a year later.

From BBC

The next circle is the CDC’s own reputation, which Kennedy has relegated to the dumpster.

From Los Angeles Times

The big question, a year to the day since his first game, a 1-1 draw at an Ipswich side that got relegated, is 'how far away are they?'

From BBC

But some Senate Republicans say spending fights should be relegated to the annual spending bills that Congress passes to fund government agencies.

From Seattle Times

"It's not fair for it to be relegated to something that just, like, fell out of me like a magical fairy."

From BBC

Related Words

• consign
• entrust
• refer