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

• relegation noun
• relegatable adjective
• relegable adjective
• unrelegable 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

No matter how you choose to define it, Price’s previous four records were also country records, despite the attempts by the ruling establishment to keep her outside and relegated to the edges.

From Salon

The forward spent last season on loan at Leicester City and managed six goals and three assists in 35 appearances as the Foxes were relegated from the Premier League.

From BBC

They are scheduled to play Altrincham on Saturday in what would be their first competitive match since being relegated from League Two in May.

From BBC

The entire GOP has relegated itself to a walk-on role in their own show, and they are too busy trying to pick their own voters to actually care.

From Salon

A recently relegated football club has launched its own sticker book as part of efforts to reconnect with fans and the local community.

From BBC

Related Words

• consign 
• entrust 
• refer