demote

Definition

To lower the rank or status of.

Etymology

From de- (“down”) + promote (“advance in rank/status (ending abstracted)”).

Example Sentences

• "James was demoted from branch manager to assistant manager due to his poor discipline."
• "In 1036, shortly after arriving at Yi-ling, Ou-yang Hsiu sent a lengthy letter to his friend, Yin Shu, who had been demoted at the same time as Ou-yang Hsiu and sent to Ying-chou (modern Chung-hsiang, Hupeh)."