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Glite Dictionary
🏟️ Drop in sports ⬇️ Lowering rank
relegation

relegation

3 7.5
Giving tasks and decisions to people below you or moving a team to a lower division
  • noun
  • /ˌrɛlɪˈɡeɪʃən/
translation icon : delegación
  • Manchester United are bottom of the First Division facing the real prospect of relegation.
  • relegation zone

I think they're about five points or something outside the relegation zone, which is quite comfy.

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Examples

  • The team's struggle to avoid relegation has caused a lot of tension among the players and coaching staff.

  • How would the lower league teams get ready for promotion and relegation?

    Blog text (27)

  • The win moves them out of the automatic relegation spots and into the relegation playoff spot.

    Blog text (22)

  • Sampdoria currently sit one point and just one place above their relegation-threatened rivals.

    Blog text (34)

  • Puebla is even staring at an uncomfortable situation in the relegation battle for the 2012-13 season.

    Blog text (26)

  • Manchester United is currently facing the threat of relegation after a series of poor performances this season.

  • After losing their last match, the club is at risk of relegation to the lower division if their performance does not improve.

Synonyms

demotion
vsrelegation
11 3.9

A move of someone to a lower job rank at work

sometimes means assigning responsibility to subordinates rather than lowering rank
delegation
vsrelegation
7 4.0

Giving someone the authority to do tasks or make decisions for you

also means moving a team down to a lower division
comedown
vsrelegation
2 7.2

A drop to a lower or less good position than before

is a formal institutional action, not a general disappointing fall in status
delegating
vsrelegation
1 4.1

Giving tasks or decisions to another person so they do them

also means moving a team to a lower division instead of only giving duties
deputation
vsrelegation
  • UK
7.2

Giving someone the power to make decisions for you

also means moving a team down to a lower division rather than authorizing action

Antonyms

advancement
119 4.1

Progress or growth that makes something better

retention
23 4.2

Keeping something so you still have it

How Low

demotion
11 3.9
to downgrade
43 4.9
relegation
3 7.5
reassignment
18 3.9
delegation
7 4.0

Surface Forms

relegation singular
relegations plural

Morphology

relegation = relegate (transparent) = relegate + ion

The sports sense ('moving a team to a lower division') is a direct application of the verb sense, so the nominal form is predictably derived by '-ion'.

Etymology

Relegation comes from Latin re- meaning 'back' and legare meaning 'to send'. It shares the same root as delegate, which is about 'sending' work to someone else, so relegation can mean sending a team down to a lower division in sports or sending responsibility to someone lower in rank.