subordinate

[adjective, noun suh-bawr-dn-it; verb suh-bawr-dn-eyt]

adjective

placed in or belonging to a lower order or rank.

of less importance; secondary.

subject to or under the authority of a superior.

subservient or inferior.

subject; dependent.

Grammar.

acting as a modifier, as when I finished, which is subordinate to They were glad in They were glad when I finished.
noting or pertaining to a subordinating conjunction.

Obsolete. submissive.

noun

a subordinate person or thing.

verb (used with object), sub·or·di·nat·ed, sub·or·di·nat·ing.

to place in a lower order or rank.

to make secondary (usually followed by to): to subordinate work to pleasure.

to make subject, subservient, or dependent (usually followed by to): to subordinate passion to reason.

Origin of subordinate

1425–75; late Middle English (adj.) < Medieval Latin subōrdinātus past participle of subōrdināre to subordinate, equivalent to Latin sub- sub- + ōrdin- (stem of ōrdō) rank, order + -ātus -ate¹

Related formssub·or·di·nate·ly, adverbsub·or·di·nate·ness, nounsub·or·di·na·tion, sub·or·di·na·cy

[suh-bawr-dn-uh-see] /səˈbɔr dn ə si/, nounsub·or·di·na·tive

[suh-bawr-dn-ey-tiv, -bawr-dn-uh-] /səˈbɔr dnˌeɪ tɪv, -ˈbɔr dn ə-/, adjectivenon·sub·or·di·nate, adjectivenon·sub·or·di·nat·ing, adjectivepre·sub·or·di·nate, verb (used with object), pre·sub·or·di·nat·ed, pre·sub·or·di·nat·ing.self-sub·or·di·nat·ing, adjectiveun·sub·or·di·nate, adjectiveun·sub·or·di·na·tive, adjective

Synonyms for subordinate

2. ancillary. 8. inferior. 9. lower, reduce.

Antonyms for subordinate

2. superior; primary.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for subordinative

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 Formssubordinately, 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

Word Origin and History for subordinative

subordinate

adj.

mid-15c., from Medieval Latin subordinatus "placed in a lower order, made subject," past participle of subordinare "place in a lower order," from Latin sub "under" (see sub-) + ordinare "arrange" (see ordain). Related: Subordinance; subordinant.

subordinate

"to bring into a subordinate position," 1590s; see subordinate (adj.). Related: Subordinated; subordinating.