relegation
n. C / Un. the act of moving a sports team down to a lower league because they performed poorly. It can also mean moving someone to a less important position or rank.
n. the transfer of a sports team to a lower division, typically as a result of finishing at the bottom of a league table. In a broader sense, it refers to the displacement of an entity to a lower rank or status.
The team faces relegation if they lose their next match.
After a season of consistent losses, the club's relegation to the second division was confirmed last night.
The financial implications of relegation from the top flight are often devastating, as clubs lose significant television revenue and must frequently sell their most valuable players to balance the books.
Borrowed from Latin relēgātiō, relēgātiōnis.
Often used with the preposition 'to' to indicate the lower level or rank.