relegate

UK: /ˈrɛlɪgeɪt/ US: /ˈrɛlɪˌgeɪt/ ,(rel′i gāt′)

Inflections of 'relegate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

relegates

v 3rd person singular

relegating

v pres p

relegated

v past

relegated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

rel•e•gate /ˈrɛlɪˌgeɪt/   v. [~ + object (+ to + object)] , -gat•ed, -gat•ing. 

1. to send (someone or something) to a lower-ranking or worse position, place, or condition:
   The team relegated him to the minor leagues.
2. to send or assign (a matter, task, etc.) to a person:
   They relegated the job of cleaning out the lockers to the janitor.

rel•e•ga•tion /ˌrɛlɪˈgeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable] See -leg-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

rel•e•gate  (rel′i gāt′), v.t., -gat•ed, -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.
3. to assign or refer (something) to a particular class or kind.
4. to send into exile; banish.

• Latin relēgātus, past participle of relēgāre to send away, dispatch. See re-, legate
• late Middle English 1375–1425

rel•e•ga•ble  (rel′i gə bəl), adj.  rel′e•ga′tion, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. delegate, entrust.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

relegate / ˈrɛlɪˌɡeɪt/ verb (transitive)

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. (followed by to) to banish or exile
5. to assign (something) to a particular group or category

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin relēgāre to send away, from re- + lēgāre to send

ˈreleˌgatable adjective

ˌreleˈgation noun