disadvantageとは意味・読み方・使い方

語源

From Middle English disavauntage, from Old French desavantage.

発音

• (Received 発音) enPR: dĭs'əd-vän'tĭj, IPA^(key): /ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪdʒ/
• (General American) enPR: dĭs'əd-văn'tĭj, IPA^(key): /ˌdɪsədˈvæntɪdʒ/

名詞

disadvantage (複数形 disadvantages)

1. A weakness or undesirable characteristic; a con.

   The disadvantage to owning a food processor is that you have to store it somewhere.

   • 1961 October, “The winter timetables of British Railways: Western Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 590:

     One of the disadvantages of increasing intermediate stops is that, as we have pointed out already, certain prestige trains have to suffer, notably the "Cornish Riviera Express", slowed 15min to Plymouth by stops at Taunton and Exeter; the "Torbay Express", decelerated 18min by stops at Reading, Westbury, Taunton and Newton Abbot; and the "Bristolian", which adds 14min in order to allow for a Bath stop and an increased load.

2. A setback or handicap.

   My height is a disadvantage for reaching high shelves.

   • 1774, Edmund Burke, speech to the electors of Bristol

     I was brought hither under the disadvantage of being unknown, even by sight, to any of you.

   • 1859-1890, John G. Palfrey, History of New England to the Revolutionary War

     Abandoned by their great patron, the faction henceforward acted at disadvantage.

3. Loss; detriment; hindrance.
   • 1834-1874, George Bancroft, History of the United States, from the Discovery of the American Continent.

     They would throw a construction on his conduct, to his disadvantage before the public.

同意語

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

反意語

• advantage