verb (used with object), rel·e·gat·ed, rel·e·gat·ing.
- 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.
- to consign or commit (a matter, task, etc.), as to a person: He relegates the less pleasant tasks to his assistant.
- to assign or refer (something) to a particular class or kind.
- to send into exile; banish.
verb (tr)
- to move to a position of less authority, importance, etc; demote
- (usually passive) mainly British to demote (a football team, etc) to a lower division
- to assign or refer (a matter) to another or others, as for action or decision
- (foll by to) to banish or exile
- to assign (something) to a particular group or category
1590s “to banish, send into exile,” from Latin relegatus, past participle of relegare “remove, dismiss, banish, send away, schedule, put aside,” from re- “back” (see re-) + legare “send with a commission” (see legate). Meaning “place in a position of inferiority” is recorded from 1790. Related: Relegated; relegating; relegable.