subordinate
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subordinate
- /səˈbɔːdɪnət/ UK
- /səˈbɔɹdɪnət/ Canada, US
- /səˈboːdɪnət/ Australia
- /səˈbɔːdɪneɪt/ UK
- /səˈbɔɹdɪneɪt/ Canada, US
- /səˈboːdɪnæɪt/ Australia
Where it comes from
From Middle English subordinat, from Medieval Latin subōrdinātus, past participle of subōrdināre, from sub- + ōrdināre (“to order”).
adjective more subordinate · most subordinate
-
Placed in a lower class, rank, or position.
The several kinds […] and subordinate species of each are easily known.
Similar: lesser, subaltern, petty · Opposite: superior, superordinate
-
Submissive or inferior to, or controlled by authority.
November 9, 1662, Robert South, Of the Creation of Man in the Image of God
It was subordinate, not enslaved, to the understanding.
Opposite: insubordinate
-
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”.
Similar: dependent · Opposite: independent, main
- Descending in a regular series.
noun subordinates
-
One who is subordinate.
Similar: inferior, junior, report, subaltern, underling, understrapper · Opposite: boss, commander, leader, manager, superior, superordinate, supervisor
-
A hyponym.
Opposite: hypernym, hyperonym, superordinate
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: subservient, submissive, subaltern, underling, assistant, associate, subsidiary, deputy, proxy, dependent, subject, junior, adjunct, secondary, under, lower
Translations
Every language
adj placed in a lower class, rank, or position
| Español | subordinado |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 종속적 jongsokjeok, 하급의 hageubui, 부차적 buchajeok |
| 日本語 | 劣後する retsugo suru |
| हिन्दी | कनिष्ठ kaniṣṭh |
| Português | subordinado |
| Français | subordonné |
| Deutsch | untergeordnet, nachgeordnet |
| Română | subordonat, subordonată |
| Русский | подчинённый podčinjónnyj |
adj submissive to or controlled by authority
| 한국어 | 예속하다 yesokhada, 예속되다 causative yesokdoeda, 예속적 nominal yesokjeok |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 従属する jūzoku suru, 付属する jūzoku suru |
| Português | subordinado, subordinada |
| Deutsch | untergeordnet, nachgeordnet |
| Ελληνικά | εξαρτημένος exartiménos, υποτελής ypotelís |
| Română | subordonat |
| Русский | подчинённый podčinjónnyj |
adj grammar: dependent
| 한국어 | 의존하다 uijonhada, 의존적 nominal uijonjeok, 의존되다 causative uijondoeda |
|---|---|
| Português | subordinado |
| Ελληνικά | εξαρτημένος exartiménos, δευτερεύουσα defterévousa |
| Română | subordonat |
| Русский | прида́точный pridátočnyj |
noun one who is subordinate
| Español | subordinado |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 부하 buha, 하급자 hageupja, 졸개 jolgae |
| 日本語 | 部下 buka, 配下 haika |
| 中文 | 下屬 /下属 xiàshǔ, 手下 shǒuxià |
| हिन्दी | कनिष्ठ kaniṣṭh |
| Português | subordinado |
| Français | subordonné, subordonnée, subordonnés, subordonnées |
| Deutsch | Untergebene, Befehlsempfänger |
| Română | subaltern |
| Русский | подчинённый podčinjónnyj |
| Tiếng Việt | thuộc cấp |
verb to make subservient
| Español | subordinar, supeditar |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 종속시키다 jongsoksikida, 예속시키다 yesoksikida |
| Português | subordinar, submeter, subjugar, dominar |
| Русский | подчиня́ть podčinjátʹ |
verb to treat as of less value or importance
| Español | subordinar, supeditar |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 얕보다 yatboda, 낮춰 보다 natchwo boda, 경시하다 gyeongsihada, 업신여기다 eopsinyeogida, 하찮게 여기다 hachanke yeogida |
| Português | subordinar, submeter, sujeitar |
Talk about this word "subordinate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/subordinate. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. subordinate. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/subordinate "subordinate." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/subordinate.Cite this
@misc{subordinate_2026,
title = {subordinate},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/subordinate},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
