subordinated

American  

[suh-bawr-dn-ey-tid] / səˈbɔr dnˌeɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. made secondary or subservient.

   Most college programs are geared to those aged 18 to 24, leaving others in a subordinated position in the system.

   She refused to settle for a subordinated life as an “office lady,” making copies and coffee for male coworkers and superiors.

2. Finance. being or relating to a debt whose holder is ranked below secured and general creditors with respect to priority of payment.

   Typically, in liquidation, subordinated debentures come after short-term debt.

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Other Word Forms

• unsubordinated adjective

Etymology

Origin of subordinated

First recorded in 1640–50 subordinated for def. 1; 1920–25 subordinated for def. 2; subordinate ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

But this pivotal friendship is subordinated to the group dynamic.

From Los Angeles Times

In his post on X, he said that "the fight against drugs must be subordinated to the human rights of the Caribbean people".

From BBC

That climate of deference fostered a culture of complicity, where questions of social responsibility were subordinated to uncritical faith in authority.

From Salon

“All the technical choices — framing decisions, uses of color and lighting techniques — he is able to apply them, but always subordinated to the director’s vision and, most importantly, to the needs of the film itself.”

From Los Angeles Times

The issue of subordinated securities will not have a material impact on its financial position, the country's largest lender said.

From Reuters