'Demote' definitions:

Definition of 'demote'

From: WordNet
verb
Assign to a lower position; reduce in rank; "She was demoted because she always speaks up"; "He was broken down to Sergeant" [syn: demote, bump, relegate, break, kick downstairs] [ant: advance, elevate, kick upstairs, promote, raise, upgrade]

Definition of 'Demote'

From: GCIDE
  • Demote \De*mote"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Demoting.] [Pref. de- + mote, as in promote; cf. L. demovere to remove.] To reduce to a lower grade or rank, as in the military, one's employment, or in school; to assign to a lower position.
  • Syn: bump, relegate, kick downstairs, break one's rank. [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC WordNet 1.5]