What does disadvantage mean?
Word: Disadvantage
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Disadvantage means something that makes things harder for you or puts you in a weaker position than others.
Synonyms: drawback, problem, weakness
Antonyms: advantage
How do you spell disadvantage?
Syllables: dis - ad - van - tage
Tricky part: Many pupils forget the d after the first a of advantage and write disavantage, because the d is hardly heard.
Watch out for: disavantage, dissadvantage, disadvantige
Memory tip: Say ad-van-tage slowly and you can just hear the d: an advantage gives you a head start, and ad- needs its d.
Disadvantage in a sentence
Example 1: Being the shortest player was a disadvantage in basketball.
Example 2: One disadvantage of living far from school is the long bus ride.
Example 3: The team without shoes was at a disadvantage on the hot ground.
Fun Fact
The d in advantage was not there at first. The old French word was avantage, and English writers added the d in the 1500s.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Choose the correct prefix to complete the word:
advantage
a) un
b) mis
c) dis
d) in
Show answer
c) dis. Dis turns advantage into its opposite.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word:
disadvantage
a) mistake
b) delay
c) hurdle
d) benefit
Show answer
d) benefit. A benefit helps you, which is the opposite of a disadvantage.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to form a word:
disadv_nt_ge
a) e, a
b) e, e
c) a, e
d) a, a
Show answer
d) a, a. Both missing letters are a, just as in advantage.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) disagree
b) unhappiness
c) misbehave
d) disadvantaje
Show answer
d) disadvantaje. The j sound at the end of disadvantage is spelt with a g, as in page.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What is one disadvantage of a broken umbrella?
a) It fits in a bag.
b) It is light to carry.
c) You get wet in the rain.
d) It looks colourful.
Show answer
c) You get wet in the rain.
2. Which team would be at a disadvantage?
a) a team playing on its home ground
b) a team that practised all week
c) a team with only eight players
d) a team with a strong goalkeeper
Show answer
c) a team with only eight players
