# disadvantage

/ˌdɪsədˈvænɪdʒ/ (US) · /dˌɪsɐdvˈɑːntɪdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disadvantage
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a drawback

noun · CEFR B1

a quality or feature that makes something less useful or attractive.

For teachers: an undesirable characteristic or drawback that reduces the effectiveness or appeal of something.

- The main disadvantage of living in the city center is the constant noise.
- One significant disadvantage of the proposed software update is its lack of compatibility with older hardware systems.

### 2. an unfair position

noun · CEFR B1

a situation that makes it harder for you to succeed than for other people.

For teachers: a state or condition that puts someone in an inferior or less favourable position compared to others.

- He was at a disadvantage during the interview because he didn't have much experience.
- Children from low-income families often start their education at a distinct disadvantage compared to their wealthier peers.

### 3. to put at a loss

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to put someone in a position where they have less chance of success than others.

For teachers: to place someone or something in an unfavourable or inferior position. Transitive — always takes a direct object.

- The new tax laws might disadvantage small business owners.
- The committee was concerned that the new criteria would unfairly disadvantage applicants from non-traditional backgrounds.

## Examples

- One disadvantage of living in the city is the high cost of rent.
- The team's lack of experience proved to be a major disadvantage during the final minutes of the championship game.
- While the new software offers superior processing speeds, its steep learning curve presents a significant disadvantage for smaller firms with limited training budgets.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.