■ be demoted 降格する　
ex) I've been demoted in rank and pay.
役職と給与が下がった

demote: give (someone) a lower rank or less senior position, usually as a punishment
ex) I am being demoted in my organisation because of internal restructuring.
社内リストラのため、会社で降格している

■ demotional transfer 左遷　
ex) A demotional transfer would typically be accompanied by a reduction in salary.
左遷には 通常 減給も伴う

demotional transfer: movement to a position in another classification at a lesser level of responsibility
ex) A demotional transfer may not be used as a form of disciplinary action.
左遷は 懲戒処分の手段としては使われない

■ disciplinary action 懲戒処分
ex) An employee may be demoted for poor job performance after the employee has received at least one prior disciplinary action.
少なくても１回の 懲戒処分を受けた後、従業員は降格される可能性がある

disciplinary action: responding to an employee's misconduct, unsatisfactory performance, and breaking of rules at work
ex) A breach of discipline may attract demotion as a punishment.
規律に違反すると 懲罰として降格になりうる

■ be relegated　to … 　 … に降格となる
ex) I was relegated to a position of lesser importance.
私は 重要度の低い職位に、降格となった

relegate: consign or dismiss to an inferior rank or position
ex) They aim to prevent women from being relegated to a secondary role.
彼らは 女性が 副次的な役割に 降格されることを 防止することを 目的としている

■ lesser より小さい、軽い
ex) Texas and, to a lesser degree, Oklahoma will be affected by the drought.
テキサス州、そして 被害はより少ないが オクラホマ州が 干ばつの影響を受けるであろう

lesser: not so great or important as the other or the rest
ex) It's the lesser-known songs that make this album brilliant.
このＣＤを素晴らしい ものにしているのは、何曲かのマイナーな曲だ