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Definition of relegate

relegate

/ˈrɛləɡeɪt/
rel · e · gate
Adjective:relegated
•
Past Simple:relegated
•
Past Participle:relegated
•
Present Participle:relegating
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relegate Lexical Profile

relegate Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To consign or dismiss someone or something to an inferior rank, position, or status.

Example

"The reorganization threatened to relegate seasoned researchers to purely administrative roles."

2

British To move a sports team to a lower division of a league as a result of poor performance.

Example

"After losing their final three matches of the season, the club was relegated to the second division."

3

To refer or hand over a matter, task, or decision to another person or group for execution.

Example

"The committee voted to relegate the complex zoning dispute to a specialized municipal board."

4

To banish or send someone away into exile (chiefly historical).

Example

"The emperor chose to relegate the disgraced senator to a remote island in the Aegean Sea."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for relegate

• Nearby Words

relearn
releasable
release
relegate
relegation
relent
relentless

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Latin relegatus, the past participle of relegare ('to send away' or 'to banish'), formed from re- ('back, away') and legare ('to send as a deputy' or 'to dispatch'). In Roman law, relegatio was a milder form of exile that removed a citizen from Rome without stripping them of their property or citizenship.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Relegate. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/relegate
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