Disadvantage

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ËŒdɪsÉ™dˈvɑːntɪdÊ’/
• GenAm IPA: /ËŒdɪsÉ™dˈvæntɪdÊ’/

Alternative forms

• disadvauntage obsolete

Origin

From Middle English disavauntage, from Old French desavantage

Full definition of disadvantage

Noun

1. A weakness or undesirable characteristic; a con.The disadvantage to owning a food processor is that you have to store it somewhere.
2. A setback or handicap.My height is a disadvantage for reaching high shelves.
• BurkeI was brought here under the disadvantage of being unknown by sight to any of you.
• PalfreyAbandoned by their great patron, the faction henceforward acted at disadvantage.
3. Loss; detriment; hindrance.
• BancroftThey would throw a construction on his conduct, to his disadvantage before the public.

Synonyms

• (an undesirable characteristic) afterdeal, con, drawback, downside
• (a handicap) afterdeal, weakness

Antonyms

• advantage

Verb

1. (transitive) To place at a disadvantage.They fear it might disadvantage honest participants to allow automated entries.
• 2013 September 28, Kenan Malik, "London Is Special, but Not That Special," New York Times (retrieved 28 September 2013)For London to have its own exclusive immigration policy would exacerbate the sense that immigration benefits only certain groups and disadvantages the rest. It would entrench the gap between London and the rest of the nation. And it would widen the breach between the public and the elite that has helped fuel anti-immigrant hostility.

Synonyms

• tell against

Derived terms

• disadvantageous
• disadvantageously
• disadvantageousness