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subordinate

subordinate

21 4.8
Lower in rank or importance and under someone's control
  • adjective
  • /səˈbɔːrdɪnət/
translation icon : subordinado
  • In the company, the assistant is subordinate to the manager and must follow their instructions.
  • a subordinate position
  • subordinate groups
  • subordinate women

The trick is one of those spheres is politically subordinate to the other.

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Examples

  • This is my first home where I am neither dependent nor subordinate to anyone.

  • At the time he ascended the throne, Yaxchilan had been defeated and made subordinate to Piedras Negras.

    Academic text (2011)
  • "Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities.

  • "No, sir, but he made it clear he is not going to be subordinate to me."

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The games themselves became subordinate to the quest for money.

  • Those considerations are subordinate to the interests of the Crown.

  • Under this doctrine, due process was subordinate to what was deemed to be in the best interests of the child.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Economy, you might say, was always subordinate to the polity.

  • We not only lack dominion over nature, we're subordinate to it.

  • They must always be subordinate to the duties that we have to human beings as such, the universal duties.

Synonyms

junior
vssubordinate
99 2.4

Having lower rank or less experience than another person

is about being under authority rather than age or service length
inferior
vssubordinate
33 4.2

Lower in rank, status, or importance

denotes lower rank or control without implying lower quality
low-level
vssubordinate
25 3.3

A position with little power in an organization

adds that the role is under authority or control rather than just low rank
lower-ranking
vssubordinate
1 3.8

A person who has a less important job or less power in an organization

emphasizes being under someone's authority rather than only rank
subsidiary
vssubordinate
1 5.9

Helping and less important than the main part

means being under authority or control rather than mainly supporting
subaltern
vssubordinate
1 9.9

Lower in rank or status than other people in the same group

focuses more on being subject to control or authority
junior-grade
vssubordinate
1 4.1

Having lower rank or position in a workplace

covers being under control generally, not only lower grade status

Antonyms

162 4.1

Having a higher rank or position than other people in a group

159 4.2

Having more power or influence than others in a group

Compounds

subordinate clause
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A part of a sentence that cannot stand alone and works like a noun, adjective, or adverb

5.6

A word that introduces a clause that cannot stand alone, like because or although

subordinate word
  • Specialized
7.9

A word that names a more specific kind than a general word, like 'poodle' for 'dog'

How Subordinate

subservient
14 7.6
subordinate
21 4.8
junior
99 2.4
equal
54 2.4
dominant
1 4.1

Surface Forms

subordinate positive

Morphology

subordinate = ordinate (transparent) = sub + ordinate

The prefix 'sub-' meaning 'under' combines with 'ordinate' (relating to order) to yield 'lower in order', a straightforward compositional meaning for learners.

Etymology

Subordinate comes from the Latin parts sub- 'under' and ordinare 'to put in order'. So it literally means 'under the order', which is a good image for something lower in rank or importance.