subservient

American  

[suhb-sur-vee-uhnt] / səbˈsɜr vi ənt /

adjective

1. serving or acting in a subordinate capacity; subordinate.

2. excessively submissive; servile; obsequious.

   subservient persons;

   subservient conduct.

3. useful in promoting a purpose or end.

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subservient British  

/ səbˈsɜːvɪənt /

adjective

1. obsequious in behaviour or attitude

2. serving as a means to an end

3. a less common word for subordinate

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Other Word Forms

• subservience noun
• subserviency noun
• subserviently adverb
• unsubservient adjective
• unsubserviently adverb

Etymology

Origin of subservient

First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin subservient- (stem of subserviēns, present participle of subservīre “to serve as a subordinate”; subserve ), equivalent to sub- prefix meaning “under, below, beneath, etc.” + servi-, stem of servīre “to serve” + -ent noun and adjective suffix; sub-, serve, -ent

Example Sentences

"Like Musharraf, he has a subservient prime minister and the authority to reshape the army's structure," he said.

From Barron's • Nov. 14, 2025

When Harris acted the way that vice presidents normally do — subservient, self-effacing, careful never to poach the spotlight from the chief executive — it was seen as a failing.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2025

"He probably expects him to be more subservient than he is, so it was a great dynamic between the two of us."

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2025

Here is a legend who spent her life subservient to her art, unable to conjure the miracles that defined her existence.

From Salon • Sep. 28, 2024

And Hale, White was convinced, had secretly forged an indirect channel to this fortune through his subservient nephew.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

Related Words

• deferential
• submissive