de ‧ mote /dɪˈməʊt $ -ˈmoʊt/ BrE AmE verb [transitive usually in passive]
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Origin: de- + promote ]
to make someone’s rank or position lower or less important OPP promote :
The sergeant was demoted to private.
—demotion /-ˈməʊʃ ə n $ -ˈmoʊ-/ noun [uncountable and countable]