relegate

[ rel-i-geyt ]

verb (used with object)

, rel·e·gat·ed, rel·e·gat·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• ˌreleˈgation, noun
• ˈreleˌgatable, adjective

Other Words From

• rel·e·ga·ble [rel, -i-g, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• rel·e·ga·tion [rel-i-, gey, -sh, uh, n] noun
• un·rel·e·ga·ble 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

The Republicans, under the brilliant tutelage of Donald Trump, have become the Party of Sociopaths, and their aim is to relegate the Democrats to a Party of Hapless Neurotics.

From Slate

The backlash may have persuaded CBS to relegate fact-checks to an opt-in, "second-screen" experience rather than correcting the candidates live, generally allowing Vance and Walz to speak without interruption from the moderators, with the rare exception by Brennan.

From Salon

I’m feeling better than I have in quite a while since it now seems possible that we’ll be able to relegate Trump to the status of a historical oddity.

From Salon

By contrast, if the phrase is a call to eliminate Jews from the land between the Jordan and the Mediterranean or to relegate them to second-class status, it is antisemitic.

From Los Angeles Times

It breaks with tradition, has a big personality and in no way will you relegate it to the backyard picnic table.

From Salon

Related Words

• consign
• entrust
• refer