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View synonyms for

subordinate

[suh-bawr-dn-it, suh-bawr-dn-eyt]

adjective

  1. placed in or belonging to a lower order or rank.

  2. of less importance; secondary.

    Synonyms:
    Antonyms: ,
  3. subject to or under the authority of a superior.

  4. subservient or inferior.

  5. subject; dependent.

  6. Grammar.

    1. acting as a modifier, as when I finished, which is subordinate to They were glad in They were glad when I finished.

    2. noting or pertaining to a subordinating conjunction.

  7. Obsolete.submissive.



noun

  1. a subordinate person or thing.

    Synonyms:

verb (used with object)

subordinated, subordinating 
  1. to place in a lower order or rank.

    Synonyms: ,
  2. to make secondary (usually followed byto ).

    to subordinate work to pleasure.

  3. to make subject, subservient, or dependent (usually followed byto ).

    to subordinate passion to reason.

subordinate

adjective

  1. of lesser order or importance

  2. under the authority or control of another

    a subordinate functionary

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a person or thing that is subordinate

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to put in a lower rank or position (than)

  2. to make subservient

    to subordinate mind to heart

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • subordinately adverb
  • subordinateness noun
  • subordination noun
  • subordinacy noun
  • subordinative adjective
  • nonsubordinate adjective
  • nonsubordinating adjective
  • presubordinate verb (used with object)
  • self-subordinating adjective
  • unsubordinate adjective
  • unsubordinative adjective
  • ܲˈǰ徱Բپ adjective
  • ܲˈǰ徱Բٱ adverb
  • ܲˌǰ徱ˈԲپDz noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of subordinate1

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English adjective subordynat, from Medieval Latin ܲō徱ٳܲ, past participle of ܲō徱 “to subordinate,” equivalent to Latin sub- “under, below, beneath” + ō徱- (stem of ōō ) “rank, order” + -ٳܲ past participle suffix; sub-, -ate 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of subordinate1

C15: from Medieval Latin ܲǰ徱, from Latin sub- + ǰō rank
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

That alone makes it difficult to imagine Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei authorizing his subordinates to continue discussions with the Americans.

From

The victim was described as “a subordinate employee” in a notice published by the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General last month.

From

Most of the people who serve as administrative or elected Democrats consider social movements subordinate to their electoral work.

From

In return, Trump and his subordinates are using every lever at their disposal to make the university pay the steep price for doing so.

From

This statement follows reports in the Sun that Adm Key was suspected of having an affair with a subordinate.

From

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subordinarysubordinate clause