In a way that puts someone in an unfavorable or less favorable position compared to others.
From disadvantageous (adjective) + -ly (adverbial suffix). Disadvantageous comes from dis- (opposite of) + advantage, ultimately from Old French avantage meaning 'benefit or superiority.'
This word appears frequently in legal documents and sports commentary—it's how lawyers and commentators describe situations where someone is unfairly positioned to lose or fail, reminding us that language evolves to describe complex comparative situations.
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