subordination

[ suh-bawr-dn-ey-shuhn ]

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.

subordination

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 .)

Other Words From

• non·sub·or·di·na·tion noun
• pre·sub·or·di·na·tion noun
• self-sub·or·di·na·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of subordination¹

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

It’s associated with subordination to authority, and people don’t like that.

From Time

“This is a classic form of subordination that is characteristic of employment relationships,” it added.

From TechCrunch

As Thomas notes, many Americans’ increasing commitment to racial subordination and slavery loomed large in the background of the cases.

From Washington Post

Slavery, racism, sexism, and other forms of bigotry, subordination, and human rights abuse transform and adapt with the times.

From The Daily Beast

It is a relationship of dominance and subordination that makes further conflict inevitable.

From The Daily Beast

They had adopted increasingly formalized rules of racial subordination in public places.

From The Daily Beast

For most of history, the subordination of wives to husbands was enforced by law and custom.

From The Daily Beast

If there is any such relationship, the British people have seen no reward from it—only subordination and sacrifice.

From The Daily Beast

The degree of subordination differed from the mild form of tribute-paying to that of personal slavery.

From Project Gutenberg

In all these charters care was taken that the new corporations should be in due subordination to the town authorities.

From Project Gutenberg

Our collective effort tends to break for ever this bond of subordination.

From Project Gutenberg

They shared in every privilege belonging to her native sons, and but slightly felt the inconveniences of subordination.

From Project Gutenberg

It is extraordinary with what subordination they act when they are turned out to do military duty.

From Project Gutenberg