downgrade

[ doun-greyd ]
/ ˈdaʊnˌgreɪd /

noun

a downward slope, especially of a road.

adjective, adverb

verb (used with object), down·grad·ed, down·grad·ing.

to assign to a lower status with a smaller salary.
to minimize the importance of; denigrate: She tried to downgrade the findings of the investigation.
to assign a lower security classification to (information, a document, etc.).

Idioms for downgrade

    on the downgrade, in a decline toward an inferior state or position: His career has been on the downgrade.

Origin of downgrade

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; down1 + grade

OTHER WORDS FROM downgrade

down·grad·er, noun

Example sentences from the Web for downgrade

British Dictionary definitions for downgrade

downgrade
/ (ˈdaʊnˌɡreɪd) /

verb (tr)

to reduce in importance, esteem, or value, esp to demote (a person) to a poorer job
to speak of disparagingly

noun

mainly US and Canadian a downward slope, esp in a road
on the downgrade waning in importance, popularity, health, etc