I. |dis+ noun
Etymology: alteration (influenced by ad- ) of Middle English disavauntage, from Middle French desavantage unfavorable condition, from Old French, from des- dis- (I) + avantage advantage — more at advantage
1. : loss or damage especially to reputation, credit, or finances : prejudice , detriment
his attempts to reach his enemy's face were greatly to the disadvantage of his own — G.B.Shaw
spread reports to the disadvantage of the candidate
2.
a. : the state or fact of being without advantage : an unfavorable, inferior, or prejudicial condition
found himself at a disadvantage among his polished cultivated friends
b. : an unfavorable or prejudicial quality or circumstance : handicap
the machine has two serious disadvantages
the work has the disadvantage of being written in a tedious style
II. transitive verb
: to place at a disadvantage : affect unfavorably : harm
their commercial interests were disadvantaged by the colonial relationship
seriously disadvantaged by the general fall of raw material prices