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: ancillary
   Antonyms: primary, superior

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: inferior

verb (used with object)

subordinated, subordinating 

1. to place in a lower order or rank.

   Synonyms: reduce, lower

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

noun

1. a person or thing that is subordinate

verb

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

2. to make subservient

   to subordinate mind to heart

Other Word Forms

• subordinative adjective
• subordinately adverb
• subordination noun
• subordinateness noun
• subordinacy noun
• nonsubordinate adjective
• nonsubordinating adjective
• presubordinate verb (used with object)
• self-subordinating adjective
• unsubordinate adjective
• unsubordinative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of subordinate¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English adjective subordynat, from Medieval Latin subōrdinātus, past participle of subōrdināre “to subordinate,” equivalent to Latin sub- “under, below, beneath” + ōrdin- (stem of ōrdō ) “rank, order” + -ātus past participle suffix; sub-, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of subordinate¹

C15: from Medieval Latin subordināre, from Latin _sub- + ordō rank

Example Sentences

Most U.S. public companies prohibit executives from dating subordinates and many have strict rules around executives and managers disclosing such relationships.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Put simply, the theory says the president should be able to issue orders to subordinates and to fire them at will.

Read more on Salon

But it’s fair to say that Reagan never indulged in outright name-calling or hateful invective, stressed his desire for negotiation over confrontation and left the nuclear saber-rattling to subordinates.

Read more on Salon

His defense: He had been in the dark about what his subordinates were doing to foil the feds.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Nestle has fired its chief executive after just one year in the job because he failed to disclose a "romantic relationship" with a "direct subordinate".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• aide 
• assistant 
• deputy 
• servant 
• underling