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Added 9 October 2026

subordinate

/səˈbɔːdɪnət/ adjective

Categories: Describing WordsUncommon Words

In Latin: subiectus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about subordinate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Placed in a lower class, rank, or position.
  2. Submissive or inferior to, or controlled by authority.
  3. dependent on and either modifying or complementing the main clause
    In the sentence “The barbecue finished before John arrived”, the subordinate clause “before John arrived” specifies the time of the main clause, “The barbecue finished”.

noun

  1. One who is subordinate.
  2. A hyponym.

verb

  1. To make subservient or secondary. To embed (a clause) into another clause that is the main one.
  2. To embed (a clause) into another clause that is the main one.
  3. To make of lower priority in order of payment in bankruptcy.

Origin

From Middle English subordinat, from Medieval Latin subōrdinātus, past participle of subōrdināre, from sub- + ōrdināre (“to order”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: subservientsubmissivesubalternunderlingassistantassociatesubsidiarydeputyproxydependentsubjectjunior

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