subservient

[suhb-sur-vee-uhnt]

adjective

1. serving or acting in a subordinate capacity; subordinate.

2. excessively submissive; servile; obsequious.

   subservient persons;

   subservient conduct.

3. useful in promoting a purpose or end.

subservient

/ səbˈsɜːvɪənt /

adjective

1. obsequious in behaviour or attitude

2. serving as a means to an end

3. a less common word for subordinate

Other Word Forms

• subservience noun
• subserviency noun
• subserviently adverb
• unsubservient adjective
• unsubserviently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of subservient¹

First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin subservient- (stem of subserviēns, present participle of subservīre “to serve as a subordinate”; subserve ), equivalent to sub- prefix meaning “under, below, beneath, etc.” + servi-, stem of servīre “to serve” + -ent noun and adjective suffix; sub-, serve, -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of subservient¹

C17: from Latin subserviēns complying with, from subservīre to _subserve

Example Sentences

And she moved with an authority that I had rarely seen in other Colored women, who were usually required to fill subservient roles.

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"Like Musharraf, he has a subservient prime minister and the authority to reshape the army's structure," he said.

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When Harris acted the way that vice presidents normally do — subservient, self-effacing, careful never to poach the spotlight from the chief executive — it was seen as a failing.

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And, while before they were totally in control, the managers or head coaches of today are often subservient to the people running these departments, and their decisions.

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Marks resigned from the FDA in March, saying Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, “wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies.”

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Related Words

• deferential 
• submissive