subordinating conjunction

or subordinate conjunction

noun Grammar.

a conjunction introducing a subordinate clause, as when in They were glad when I finished.

Compare coordinating conjunction.

Origin of subordinating conjunction

First recorded in 1870–75; subordinate + -ing²

Also called sub·or·di·na·tor.

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British Dictionary definitions for subordinator

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