relegated: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal
Quick answer
What does “relegated” mean?
To assign to a lower or less important position, rank, or category.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To assign to a lower or less important position, rank, or category; to demote or consign to a secondary status.
Can refer to moving someone/something to a less desirable place or condition; in sports, to move a team to a lower division as a penalty for poor performance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More commonly used in formal British contexts (e.g., politics, football). In American English, 'demoted' or 'assigned to' might be more frequent in corporate contexts, though 'relegated' is fully understood.
Connotations
In British sports journalism, 'relegated' is a specific, high-stakes term for league demotion. In both varieties, it can carry a slightly negative or dismissive tone.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English due to pervasive sports (football) usage.
Grammar
How to Use “relegated” in a Sentence
SUBJ + relegate + OBJ + to + NP (place/role)SUBJ + be relegated + to + NPSUBJ + be relegated + from + NPVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “relegated” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The club was relegated to the Championship after a disastrous season.
- She felt her ideas were being relegated in favour of more traditional approaches.
American English
- The proposal was relegated to an appendix in the final report.
- He was relegated to a desk job after the injury.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The underperforming department was relegated to a supporting function.
Academic
Once a dominant theory, it has been relegated to a historical footnote.
Everyday
I relegated the old sofa to the spare room.
Technical
The faulty module was automatically relegated to a backup status.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “relegated”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “relegated”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “relegated”
- Using 'relegated' for a voluntary move (e.g., 'I relegated myself' – unusual). Confusing with 'delegated'. Incorrect preposition (e.g., 'relegated in' instead of 'relegated to').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Mostly yes, as it implies loss of status, importance, or position. However, in neutral contexts (e.g., 'relegated old files to storage'), it can simply mean 'assigned to a less active location'.
'Relegated' means demoted or consigned to a lower position. 'Delegated' means entrusted with a task or authority. They are often confused but have opposite directional metaphors (down vs. across).
Yes. You can relegate a person (to a lower job), a team (to a lower division), or a thing/idea (to an appendix, to history).
Relegation (e.g., 'facing relegation', 'the relegation of duties').
To assign to a lower or less important position, rank, or category.
Relegated is usually formal in register.
Relegated: in British English it is pronounced /ˈrɛl.ɪ.ɡeɪ.tɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈrɛl.ə.ɡeɪ.t̬ɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “relegated to the scrapheap”
- “relegated to the back burner”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE-LEGATE = send back to the league below.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIERARCHY IS VERTICAL SPACE / IMPORTANCE IS CENTRALITY (being relegated moves you down and/or to the margins).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'relegated' most specifically and commonly used in British English?