disadvantage
noun
dis·ad·van·tage
| \ Ëdis-Éd-Ëvan-tij
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\
Definition of disadvantage
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: loss or damage especially to reputation, credit, or finances : detriment
the deal worked to their disadvantage
2a
: an unfavorable, inferior, or prejudicial condition
we were at a disadvantage
b
: a quality or circumstance that makes achievement unusually difficult : handicap
his lack of formal schooling was a serious disadvantage
disadvantage
verb
disadvantaged;
disadvantaging;
disadvantages
Definition of disadvantage (Entry 2 of 2)
: to place at a disadvantage : harm
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Synonyms & Antonyms for disadvantage
Synonyms: Noun
debit, disbenefit, downside, drawback, handicap, incommodity, liability, minus, negative, strike
Antonyms: Noun
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Examples of disadvantage in a Sentence
Noun
She had the disadvantage of growing up in a poor community. They argued that the new regulations would place their company at a competitive disadvantage in the marketplace. There are advantages and disadvantages to the new system.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
If that happens, companies that have moved their supply chains could find themselves at a competitive disadvantage compared with those that have stayed in China. — Keith Bradsher, BostonGlobe.com, "Trump ordered US companies to leave China. This is why they canât.," 24 Aug. 2019 The risk for Jerry Jones is an Elliott extension can gum up the teamâs salary cap down the road, placing them at a competitive disadvantage. — Nick Talbot, ExpressNews.com, "Writersâ Roundtable: Can Derrick White live up to his Team USA hype for the Spurs?," 10 Aug. 2019 Legislators also have felt pressure to collect more taxes from online sales to prevent local businesses from facing a competitive disadvantage. — Washington Post, "Kansas imposes toughest online tax collections in the nation," 7 Aug. 2019 The Reno 10x Zoom is every bit as high-end and performant as the OnePlus 7 Pro, but with advantages and disadvantages of its own. — Sam Byford, The Verge, "Oppo Reno 10x Zoom review: a OnePlus 7 Pro with a better camera," 17 June 2019 That gap can span several hours or several days, putting individuals â particularly low-income Americans â at a disadvantage. — BostonGlobe.com, "Gunmakersâ stock rises following mass shootings," 6 Aug. 2019 If Brady or Jackson, or any other quarterback the Dolphins face this season, employ a no-huddle, tempo offense at points during their games this season, the Dolphinsâ defense could be at a disadvantage. — Safid Deen, sun-sentinel.com, "Hereâs one area where the new Miami Dolphins defense could struggle this season," 1 Aug. 2019 The agency said that imbalance put U.S. companies needing foreign talent at a competitive disadvantage. — Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, "H-1B: Judge revives lawsuit seeking to kill foreign-student work permit, allows input from Big Tech and outsourcers," 5 July 2019 But the companies' refineries have been operating at a competitive disadvantage with refineries elsewhere in the country, according to its bankruptcy filing last year. — Chris Isidore, CNN, "The Philadelphia refinery that exploded had a history of financial trouble," 21 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Silicon Valley benefits from allowing workers to move from firm to firm, spreading ideas in a manner that might disadvantage their old, spurned employer but that, on the whole, accelerates innovation over all. — Charles Duhigg, The New Yorker, "How the Anthony Levandowski Indictment Helps Big Tech Stifle Innovation in Silicon Valley," 28 Aug. 2019 In recent years, West has positioned himself as a top advocate for reforming a criminal justice system that disadvantages people of color. — Dallas News, "Against fresh faces in race to unseat John Cornyn, Dallas' Royce West says his record sets him apart," 28 July 2019 But that treaty would have disadvantaged China by strengthening U.S. trade with Pacific partners Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and others. — Mona Charen, National Review, "What Hong Kong Means for the U.S.," 16 Aug. 2019 This means platforms might discriminate against companies that pose a competitive threat, or use data to disadvantage them. — Fortune, "Only Regulation Can Jump-start Competition in Big Tech," 16 July 2019 Patients in rural or inner city areas or at community hospitals that lack staff to work on special requests may be disadvantaged. — sun-sentinel.com, "US aims to help more cancer patients try experimental drugs," 3 June 2019 After all, the party that controls the White House is usually disadvantaged in the midterms. — Tara Golshan, Vox, "Ousted House Republican: Trump will make it almost impossible to win back the House," 15 Nov. 2018 Such a shift will also disadvantage Tesla as other companies, such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi also bring their own electric competitors to market. — Dino Grandoni, Washington Post, "The Energy 202: Scott Pruitt is still under investigation by EPA watchdog," 13 July 2018 The rating also disadvantages women, who are too often pressured to conform to absurd beauty standards, even in a professional setting where men wouldn't feel the same pressure. — Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, "Waitâthe RateMyProfessors.com âhotnessâ chili was about attractiveness?," 8 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'disadvantage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for disadvantage
disadvantage
noun
English Language Learners Definition of disadvantage
: something that causes difficulty : something that makes someone or something worse or less likely to succeed than others
: a bad or undesirable quality or feature
: loss, damage, or harm
See the full definition for disadvantage in the English Language Learners Dictionary
disadvantage
noun
dis·ad·van·tage
| \ Ëdis-Éd-Ëvan-tij
\
\
Kids Definition of disadvantage
: a state or condition that favors someone else
Our late start was a disadvantage in the race.
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