What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
relegated
Example
After the team's poor performance, they were relegated to a lower division. [relegated: verb]
Example
The experienced employee was relegated to a less important project. [relegated: past participle]
downgrade
Example
The company's credit rating was downgraded due to financial difficulties. [downgraded: verb]
Example
The manager was given a downgrade in his job title after the restructuring. [downgrade: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Downgrade is more commonly used than relegated in everyday language, as it is more versatile and can be used in various contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between relegated and downgrade?
Both relegated and downgrade are formal words that are appropriate for professional or academic writing.