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Demote: meaning, definitions and examples

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demote

 

[ dɪˈmoʊt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

job status

To demote means to lower someone’s rank or position within an organization or hierarchy. This often occurs as a result of performance issues, policy violations, or organizational restructuring. When an employee is demoted, they may experience a reduction in pay, responsibilities, or both. It's a formal action taken by management and can impact the morale of both the individual demoted and their colleagues.

Synonyms

degrade, downrank, lower, relegate

Examples of usage

  • The manager decided to demote John after repeated mistakes.
  • After the restructuring, several employees were demoted to lower positions.
  • Being demoted can be a significant blow to one’s career.

Translations

Translations of the word "demote" in other languages:

🇵🇹 rebaixar

🇮🇳 कम करना

🇩🇪 herabstufen

🇮🇩 menurunkan

🇺🇦 понижувати

🇵🇱 degradować

🇯🇵 降格する

🇫🇷 déclasser

🇪🇸 degradar

🇹🇷 aşagı çekmek

🇰🇷 강등하다

🇸🇦 خفض الرتبة

🇨🇿 degradovat

🇸🇰 degradovať

🇨🇳 降级

🇸🇮 degradirati

🇮🇸 lækka

🇰🇿 төмендету

🇬🇪 დაბლა დაყენება

🇦🇿 aşağı salmaq

🇲🇽 degradar

Etymology

The term 'demote' originates from the prefix 'de-' meaning 'down from' or 'away from' and the root 'mote' derived from the Latin 'movere', which means 'to move'. The use of 'demote' in the English language became more standardized in the early 20th century as organizations began to formalize employee ranks and hierarchies. Initially used in military contexts, where soldiers could be demoted in rank for misconduct, the term has since evolved to encompass a broader range of professional settings. The concept of demotion is often associated with disciplinary actions but can also relate to organizational changes where positions are eliminated or shifted.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,221 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.