() to move sb to a lower position in an organization, often as a punishment 使降级，使降职（常作为惩罚）◆She was demoted from chief executive to sales director. 她由总裁降职为销售总监。
() to move a company to a lower position within a particular system, such as a stock exchange index 降低（公司在证券交易所指数等体系中的）级别◆The airline has been demoted from the FTSE 100 Index. 这航空公司已经从《金融时报》 100 指数中降级。
[, ]◆She had to work unpaid overtime or risk demotion. 她不得不无偿加班，否则就有降职的风险。◆The company faces a demotion from the index following the drop in its share price. 随着股价下跌，这公司面临着从股票指数中降级的风险。