dis·ad·van·tage
ˌdis-əd-ˈvan-tij 
1
: loss or damage especially to reputation, credit, or finances : detriment
the deal worked to their disadvantage
2
a
: 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
Synonyms
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
Bloomberg, Fortune Europe, 15 Apr. 2024
Some Californians begin that budgeting process at a disadvantage because less was spent on their services in the past.
—Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Younger Laura Geller users aren’t at a total disadvantage, though.
—Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
On the other side of the equation, onerous regulations could stymie innovation, leaving the U.S. at a disadvantage as other nations look to harness the power of AI.
—David Klepper, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2024
For all its design prowess, Nutrition Facts embraced an ideology of consumer empowerment ill-equipped to address systemic disadvantages.
—TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
That’s a competitive disadvantage, but Fiat says five minutes will add 31 miles to a near-empty battery.
—Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2024
But the group has opposed a smoking ban, arguing such a prohibition would place the city's casinos at a disadvantage in competing with establishments in neighboring states that allow smoking.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2024
But Intel gave itself a disadvantage by last year deciding to forego the use of ASML’s bleeding-edge extreme ultraviolet (EUV) chipmaking machines.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024
Colleen Murphy, Health, 13 Apr. 2024
In Florida, the congressional map has faced long-running discrimination lawsuits in both state and federal courts, with one state judge ruling that a district near Jacksonville disadvantaged voters of color.
—Marilyn W. Thompson, ProPublica, 4 Apr. 2024
The United States intervened by holding direct talks with Japan in 1984–85 to compel Tokyo to deal with the root of the problem: structural policies that disadvantaged foreign products and undervalued Japan’s currency.
—Daniel H. Rosen, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2024
Last year, the party agreed on new rules for its caucuses that disadvantaged another Trump rival, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, by effectively preventing the super PAC that backed him from participating directly on Caucus Day.
—Michael Gold, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024
In a 93-page opinion rendered Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Mark T. Pittman ruled that the Minority Business Development Agency’s presumption that businesses owned by Blacks, Latinos and other minorities are inherently disadvantaged violated the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection.
—Julian Mark, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
The exam will still be scored on a 1600-point scale, and the College Board has said that students won’t be disadvantaged if they are routed to an easier second section.
—Katie Lobosco, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024
The research here is still unfolding, but experts believe Black athletes' higher risk is tied to the social, economic, and physical conditions disadvantaged populations live in.
—Julia Landwehr, Health, 22 Feb. 2024
The tax code, social security benefits, pensions, health insurance, IRAs, and countless other aspects of our societal infrastructure are set up to support married family units—and disadvantage those who choose to stay single.
—Clare Egan, Longreads, 13 Feb. 2024
Noun
The survey results underscored concerns that foreign businesses in China suffer disadvantages compared with their local counterparts.
—Bloomberg, Fortune Europe, 15 Apr. 2024
Some Californians begin that budgeting process at a disadvantage because less was spent on their services in the past.
—Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
Younger Laura Geller users aren’t at a total disadvantage, though.
—Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
On the other side of the equation, onerous regulations could stymie innovation, leaving the U.S. at a disadvantage as other nations look to harness the power of AI.
—David Klepper, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Apr. 2024
For all its design prowess, Nutrition Facts embraced an ideology of consumer empowerment ill-equipped to address systemic disadvantages.
—TIME, 11 Apr. 2024
That’s a competitive disadvantage, but Fiat says five minutes will add 31 miles to a near-empty battery.
—Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2024
But the group has opposed a smoking ban, arguing such a prohibition would place the city's casinos at a disadvantage in competing with establishments in neighboring states that allow smoking.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2024
But Intel gave itself a disadvantage by last year deciding to forego the use of ASML’s bleeding-edge extreme ultraviolet (EUV) chipmaking machines.
—David Meyer, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024
Verb
Think about who might be unfairly disadvantaged in these areas.
—Colleen Murphy, Health, 13 Apr. 2024
In Florida, the congressional map has faced long-running discrimination lawsuits in both state and federal courts, with one state judge ruling that a district near Jacksonville disadvantaged voters of color.
—Marilyn W. Thompson, ProPublica, 4 Apr. 2024
The United States intervened by holding direct talks with Japan in 1984–85 to compel Tokyo to deal with the root of the problem: structural policies that disadvantaged foreign products and undervalued Japan’s currency.
—Daniel H. Rosen, Foreign Affairs, 27 Mar. 2024
Last year, the party agreed on new rules for its caucuses that disadvantaged another Trump rival, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, by effectively preventing the super PAC that backed him from participating directly on Caucus Day.
—Michael Gold, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024
In a 93-page opinion rendered Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Mark T. Pittman ruled that the Minority Business Development Agency’s presumption that businesses owned by Blacks, Latinos and other minorities are inherently disadvantaged violated the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection.
—Julian Mark, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
The exam will still be scored on a 1600-point scale, and the College Board has said that students won’t be disadvantaged if they are routed to an easier second section.
—Katie Lobosco, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024
The research here is still unfolding, but experts believe Black athletes' higher risk is tied to the social, economic, and physical conditions disadvantaged populations live in.
—Julia Landwehr, Health, 22 Feb. 2024
The tax code, social security benefits, pensions, health insurance, IRAs, and countless other aspects of our societal infrastructure are set up to support married family units—and disadvantage those who choose to stay single.
—Clare Egan, Longreads, 13 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disadvantage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near disadvantage
Cite this Entry
“Disadvantage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disadvantage. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
disadvantage
1 of 2 noun
dis·ad·van·tage
ˌdis-əd-ˈvant-ij
1
: loss or damage especially to one's good name or finances
the deal worked to our disadvantage
2
a
: a state or condition that favors someone else
was at a disadvantage in educated company
b
: something not helpful : a cause of difficulty
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