demote

verb

de·​mote di-ˈmōt How to pronounce demote (audio)
ˌdē-
demoted; demoting
Synonyms of demotenext

transitive verb

1
: to reduce to a lower grade or rank
demote a student
was demoted from major to captain
2
: to relegate to a less important position
a pitcher demoted to the bullpen
demotion
di-ˈmō-shən How to pronounce demote (audio)
ˌdē-
noun

Synonyms of demote

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Examples of demote in a Sentence

Teachers can choose to demote a student to a lower grade. The army major was demoted to captain.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
An officer with the Porter County Sheriff’s Department who misused the county’s license plate reader system has been demoted, suspended without pay and faced other disciplinary measures, according to a release from Sheriff Jeffery Balon. — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026 Ramirez was surprised and very upset when the team demoted him to Jacksonville in May, according to a team source. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026 Brendan Beck was demoted to Triple-A on Monday to make room for Topa, who recently signed a minor league contract with the Yankees. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026 Under Kentucky law, employers generally cannot retaliate against you for a workers’ comp claim, which protects you from being fired or demoted simply for seeking help. — Jason Phillips, Ascend Agency, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for demote

Word History

Etymology

de- + -mote (as in promote)

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of demote was in 1872

Rhymes for demote

See All Rhymes for demote

Browse Nearby Words

Demosthenic
demote
demothball
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Demote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demote. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

demote

verb
de·​mote di-ˈmōt How to pronounce demote (audio)
ˈdē-
demoted; demoting
: to reduce to a lower grade or rank
demotion
di-ˈmō-shən How to pronounce demote (audio)
ˈdē-
noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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