subordinate

American  

[suh-bawr-dn-it, suh-bawr-dn-eyt] / səˈbɔr dn ɪt, səˈbɔr dnˌeɪt /

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.

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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 British  

adjective

1. of lesser order or importance

2. under the authority or control of another

   a subordinate functionary

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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

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

Etymology

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-, -ate ¹

Explanation

A subordinate is someone who works for someone else. As a verb, to subordinate means to place or rank one thing below another. When you're doing a group project, sometimes you have to subordinate your ideas to the desires of the larger group. The prefix sub- means "lower" and ordinate refers to an ordering of things. In the army, a private is subordinate to an officer. You can also say the private is a subordinate. When it's an adjective or noun, the word is pronounced "suh-BOR-duh-nit." When it's a verb, it’s pronounced "suh-BOR-duh-nate." Don’t subordinate one pronunciation to the other: they're both equally important.

Example Sentences

The company will pay about 20% in cash and 80% in GFL subordinate voting shares.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

But Ricardo Monreal, parliamentary leader for the ruling Morena party, rejected the idea that Washington could make Mexico a "subordinate".

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

Trump visited the construction site, theatrically inspecting it like a mob boss checking on a wayward subordinate.

From Salon • Jan. 12, 2026

"Uganda has been ready for a civilian leader since time immemorial," he insists, adding that according to Uganda's constitution, the military must be subordinate to the civilian authority.

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026

“There he goes again, you see!” cried Wemmick, “I told you so! Asks another question of the subordinate before his first is dry! Well, supposing Mr. Pip is one of them?”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

Related Words

• aide
• assistant
• deputy
• servant
• underling