🛣️ Base layer 🚜 To prepare ground ⬇️ Lower quality

subgrade

8.4

A person or thing of lower quality than normal

noun
/ˈsʌbˌɡreɪd/

Offensive

: de segunda clase

Some reviewers dismissed the product as a subgrade version of the original.

Examples

He felt like a subgrade employee compared to his colleagues.
The quality of the report was subgrade at best.
He was frustrated to receive what he felt was a subgrade education at the school.
The team was criticized for their subgrade performance in the championship match.
Some reviewers dismissed the product as a subgrade version of the original.
He was frustrated to receive what he felt was a subgrade education at the school.
The team was criticized for their subgrade performance in the championship match.

Synonyms

inferior

vssubgrade

Offensive

5 5.9

A person who has lower rank or status than others

is more informal and insulting in everyday speech

poor relation

vssubgrade

Offensive

2 5.4

A person or thing that others see as less important than the rest of the group

is about general low quality rather than lower status within a group

third-rater

vssubgrade

Informal

1 9.2

A person or thing of low quality that people think is not good

is similar but used more casually as a general insult

subaverage

vssubgrade

Offensive

8.3

A person or thing people see as below the normal level in ability and quality

is stronger implying clear inferiority and lower overall standard

How Good

premium

101 4.3

good value

23 1.7

average

∞ 1.0

subgrade

Offensive

8.4

junk

402 1.1

Surface Forms

subgrade singular

subgrades plural

Morphology

subgrade = grade (semi-transparent) = sub + grade

The prefix 'sub-' indicates a lower or inferior level, but the informal and disparaging usage may not be immediately clear to all learners.

Etymology

Subgrade comes from the parts sub- 'under' and grade 'level' or 'rank', so it literally means 'below the usual level'. That's why calling something subgrade says it is of lower or poorer quality.