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subordinate

[ adjective, noun suh-bawr-dn-it; verb suh-bawr-dn-eyt ]
/ adjective, noun səˈbɔr dn ɪt; verb səˈbɔr dnˌeɪt /
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See synonyms for: subordinate / subordinated / subordinates / subordinating on Thesaurus.com

adjective
noun
a subordinate person or thing.
verb (used with object), sub·or·di·nat·ed, sub·or·di·nat·ing.
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Origin of subordinate

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; see sub-, -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM subordinate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use subordinate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for subordinate

subordinate

adjective (səˈbɔːdɪnɪt)
of lesser order or importance
under the authority or control of anothera subordinate functionary
noun (səˈbɔːdɪnɪt)
a person or thing that is subordinate
verb (səˈbɔːdɪˌneɪt) (tr usually foll by to)
to put in a lower rank or position (than)
to make subservientto subordinate mind to heart

Derived forms of subordinate

subordinately, adverbsubordination or subordinateness, nounsubordinative, adjective

Word Origin for subordinate

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