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subordinating conjunction

or subordinate conjunction

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noun Grammar.
a conjunction introducing a subordinate clause, as when in They were glad when I finished.
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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.
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Also called sub·or·di·na·tor.
Compare coordinating conjunction.

Origin of subordinating conjunction

First recorded in 1870–75; subordinate + -ing2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for subordinating conjunction

subordinating conjunction
noun
a conjunction that introduces subordinate clauses, such as if, because, although, and untilCompare coordinating conjunction
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
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