relegate

[rel-i-geyt]

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.

relegate

/ 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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of relegate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of relegate¹

C16: from Latin relēgāre to send away, from _re- + lēgāre to send

Example Sentences

We've compared the promoted teams with the relegated sides they replaced.

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When Liverpool were relegated from the WSL in 2020, criticism over a lack of investment in the women's team was rife.

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Chilton decided that he couldn’t and relegated him to his old role of analyzing companies for the guy who actually made the investment decisions.

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For now, the reporters are relegated to lower press — where a wrangler admitted in writing that they cannot speak on the record for the administration.

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They finished 15th in Premier League, their worst performance since the 1973-74 campaign in which they were relegated from the top flight.

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Related Words

• consign 
• entrust 
• refer