subordination

American  

[suh-bawr-dn-ey-shuhn] / səˌbɔr dnˈeɪ ʃən /

Sometimes subordinacy

noun

1. the act of placing in a lower rank or position.

   The refusal to allow women to be educated was part of society's subordination of women to men.

2. the act of subordinating, or of making dependent, secondary, or subservient.

3. the condition of being subordinated, or made dependent, secondary, or subservient.

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subordination Cultural  

1. The use of expressions that make one element of a sentence dependent on another. In the following sentence, the first (italicized) clause (also called a subordinate clause) is subordinate to the second clause: “Despite all efforts toward a peaceful settlement of the dispute, war finally broke out.” (Compare coordination, dependent clause, and independent clause.)

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Other Word Forms

• nonsubordination noun
• presubordination noun
• self-subordination noun

Etymology

Origin of subordination

First recorded in 1425–75; from Late Latin subordination-, stem of subordinatio, equivalent to Medieval Latin subōrdināt(us), past participle of subōrdināre subordinate ( def. ) + -iō -ion ( def. )

Example Sentences

"We swear absolute loyalty and subordination," said Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino, who presented Rodriguez with the ceremonial baton and sword of independence hero Simon Bolivar.

From Barron's • Jan. 29, 2026

When a securitized bond is backed by B-rated loans but structured as AAA through subordination and over-collateralization, Morningstar shows the underlying loan quality.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 7, 2025

When lenders quietly rewrite the rules of engagement, or demand all-for-one consent before lien subordination, it signals a system steeling itself for impact.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 27, 2025

What would our world look like if we changed our reality to shake off our tired stories about male triumphalism and female subordination?

From Salon • Oct. 11, 2023

Just as you revert to being about nine years old when you go home to visit your parents, you revert to total subordination when you are in the presence of your former CEO.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis