Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense subordinates, present participle subordinating, past tense, past participle subordinatedpronunciation note: The noun and adjective are pronounced (səbɔːʳdɪnət). The verb is pronounced (səbɔːʳdɪneɪt).
1. countable noun [oft poss NOUN]
If someone is your subordinate, they have a less important position than you in the organization that you both work for.
Haig tended not to seek guidance from subordinates.
Nearly all her subordinates adored her.
Synonyms: inferior, junior, assistant, aide More Synonyms of subordinate
2. adjective
Someone who is subordinateto you has a less important position than you and has to obey you.
Sixty of his subordinate officers followed his example.
Some people still regard women as subordinate to men. [+ to]
Synonyms: inferior, lesser, lower, junior More Synonyms of subordinate
3. adjective
Something that is subordinateto something else is less important than the other thing.
It was an art in which words were subordinate to images. [+ to]
Synonyms: subsidiary, supplementary, auxiliary, ancillary More Synonyms of subordinate
4. verb
If you subordinate something to another thing, you regard it or treat it as less important than the other thing.
He was both willing and able to subordinate all else to this aim. [VERB noun + to]
subordination (səbɔːʳdɪneɪʃən)uncountable noun
...the social subordination of women. [+ of]
They want to end the country's subordination to foreign economic interests.
[Also + to]
Synonyms: inferiority, servitude, subjection, inferior or secondary status More Synonyms of subordinate
English Easy Learning GrammarSentences and clausesA clause is a group of words which contains a verb. The verb in a clause can be finite Use this pan for the pasta. He missed the turnoff. or non-finite. To ... Read more
subordinate in British English
adjective (səˈbɔːdɪnɪt)
1.
of lesser order or importance
2.
under the authority or control of another
a subordinate functionary
noun (səˈbɔːdɪnɪt)
3.
a person or thing that is subordinate
verb (səˈbɔːdɪˌneɪt)(transitive; usually foll byto)
4.
to put in a lower rank or position (than)
5.
to make subservient
to subordinate mind to heart
Derived forms
subordinately (subˈordinately)
adverb
subordination (subˌordiˈnation) or subordinateness (subˈordinateness)
noun
subordinative (subˈordinative)
adjective
Word origin
C15: from Medieval Latin subordināre, from Latin sub- + ordō rank
subordinate in American English
(səˈbɔrdənɪt; for v. səˈbɔrdəˌneɪt)
adjective
1.
inferior to or placed below another in rank, power, importance, etc.; secondary
2.
under the power or authority of another
3.
subservient or submissive
4. Grammar
having the function of a noun, adjective, or adverb within a sentence
a subordinate clause
noun
5.
a subordinate person or thing
verb transitiveWord forms: subˈordiˌnated or subˈordiˌnating
6.
to place in a subordinate position; treat as less important or inferior (to)
7.
to make obedient or subservient (to); control; subdue
Derived forms
subordinately (subˈordinately)
adverb
subordinative (subˈordiˌnative)
adjective
Word origin
ME < ML subordinatus, pp. of subordinare < L sub-, under + ordinare, to order: see ordain
Examples of 'subordinate' in a sentence
subordinate
Inspector Banbury was in charge, the young men were present in a strictly subordinate capacity.
Butler, Gwendoline COFFIN ON THE WATER (2001)
He was the only subordinate Lysenko occasionally patted on the back.
Forbes, Colin COVER STORY (2001)
He walked, and led him back through the veils, where he found another subordinate, in the chamber with his desk.
C.J. Cherryh HAMMERFALL (2001)
In other languages
subordinate
British English: subordinate NOUN
If someone is your subordinate, they have a less important position than you in the organization that you both work for.
He tended not to seek guidance from subordinates.
American English: subordinate
Brazilian Portuguese: subordinado
Chinese: 下级
European Spanish: subordinado
French: subordonné
German: Untergebene
Italian: subordinato
Japanese: 部下
Korean: 부하
European Portuguese: subordinado
Latin American Spanish: subordinado
British English: subordinate ADJECTIVE
Someone who is subordinate to you has a less important position than you and has to obey you.
Sixty of his subordinate officers followed his example.
American English: subordinate
Brazilian Portuguese: subordinado
Chinese: 下属的
European Spanish: subordinado
French: subalterne
German: untergeordnet
Italian: subordinato
Japanese: 部下の
Korean: 종속적인
European Portuguese: subordinado
Latin American Spanish: subordinado
Chinese translation of 'subordinate'
subordinate
(nsəˈbɔːdɪnət; vbsəˈbɔːdɪneɪt)
n(c)
下属(屬) (xiàshǔ)
adj
[officer, position, role]下级(級)的 (xiàjí de)
to be subordinate to sb是某人的下属(屬) (shì mǒurén de xiàshǔ)
to be subordinate to sth从(從)属(屬)于(於)某事物 (cóngshǔ yú mǒuwù)
vt
to subordinate sth to sth使某物服从(從)某物 (shǐ mǒuwù fúcóng mǒuwù)
All related terms of 'subordinate'
subordinate clause
从(從)句 cóngjù
main/subordinate clause
( Ling ) 主/从(從)句 zhǔ/cóngjù
to be subordinate to sb
是某人的下属(屬) shì mǒurén de xiàshǔ
to be subordinate to sth
从(從)属(屬)于(於)某事物 cóngshǔ yú mǒuwù
to subordinate sth to sth
使某物服从(從)某物 shǐ mǒuwù fúcóng mǒuwù
(noun)
Definition
a person or thing that is of lesser rank or importance
Her subordinates respected her.
Synonyms
inferior
He was too proud to conceal his opinions from those he considered his inferiors.
junior
assistant
He had been accompanied to the meeting by an assistant.
aide
a close aide to the prime minister
second
attendant
He was working as a car-park attendant.
dependant
underling
subaltern
Opposites
head
,
leader
,
superior
,
chief
,
boss (informal)
,
senior
,
captain
,
master
,
commander
,
principal
1 (adjective)
Definition
of lesser rank or importance
Sixty of his subordinate officers followed his example.
Synonyms
inferior
the inferior status of women in many societies
lesser
He was feared by other, lesser, men.
lower
the lower ranks of council officers
junior
a junior minister attached to the prime minister's office
subject
colonies and other subject territories
minor
She is known for a number of minor roles in films.
secondary
Refugee problems remained of secondary importance.
dependent
subservient
He expects all the staff to be subservient to him.
Opposites
senior
,
superior
,
higher
,
greater
,
main
,
central
,
key
,
essential
,
vital
,
predominant
2 (adjective)
It was an art in which words were subordinate to images.
Synonyms
subsidiary
a subsidiary position
supplementary
the question of whether or not we need to take supplementary vitamins
auxiliary
auxiliary fuel tanks
ancillary
Ancillary services like cleaning are put up for competitive tender.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aide
Definition
an assistant
a close aide to the prime minister
Synonyms
assistant,
supporter,
deputy,
attendant,
helper,
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person,
right-hand man or woman or person,
adjutant,
second,
helpmate,
coadjutor (rare)
in the sense of ancillary
Definition
used as an extra or supplement
Ancillary services like cleaning are put up for competitive tender.
Synonyms
supplementary,
supporting,
extra,
additional,
secondary,
subsidiary,
accessory,
subordinate,
auxiliary,
contributory
in the sense of assistant
Definition
a helper or subordinate
He had been accompanied to the meeting by an assistant.
Synonyms
helper,
partner,
ally,
colleague,
associate,
supporter,
deputy,
subsidiary,
aide,
aider,
second,
accessory,
attendant,
backer,
protagonist,
collaborator,
accomplice,
confederate,
auxiliary,
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person,
right-hand man or woman or person,
adjutant,
helpmate,
coadjutor (rare),
abettor,
cooperator
Synonyms of 'subordinate'
subordinate
Explore 'subordinate' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of attendant
Definition
a person who assists, guides, or provides a service
He was working as a car-park attendant.
Synonyms
assistant,
guide,
guard,
servant,
companion,
aide,
escort,
follower,
steward,
waiter,
usher,
warden,
helper,
auxiliary,
custodian,
page,
menial,
concierge,
underling (derogatory),
lackey,
chaperon,
flunky
in the sense of auxiliary
Definition
secondary or supplementary
auxiliary fuel tanks
Synonyms
supplementary,
reserve,
emergency,
substitute,
secondary,
back-up,
subsidiary,
fall-back
in the sense of junior
Definition
lower in rank or position
a junior minister attached to the prime minister's office
Synonyms
minor,
lower,
secondary,
lesser,
subordinate,
inferior
in the sense of lesser
Definition
not as great in quantity, size, or worth
He was feared by other, lesser, men.
Synonyms
lower,
slighter,
secondary,
subsidiary,
subordinate,
inferior,
less important
in the sense of lower
Definition
being below one or more other things
the lower ranks of council officers
Synonyms
subordinate,
under,
smaller,
junior,
minor,
secondary,
lesser,
low-level,
inferior,
second-class
in the sense of minor
Definition
not very serious or significant
She is known for a number of minor roles in films.
Synonyms
small,
lesser,
subordinate,
smaller,
light,
slight,
secondary,
petty,
inferior,
trivial,
trifling,
insignificant,
negligible,
unimportant,
paltry,
inconsequential,
inconsiderable,
nickel-and-dime (US, slang)
in the sense of secondary
Definition
below the first in rank or importance
Refugee problems remained of secondary importance.
Synonyms
subordinate,
minor,
lesser,
lower,
inferior,
unimportant,
second-rate
in the sense of subject
colonies and other subject territories
Synonyms
subordinate,
dependent,
satellite,
inferior,
captive,
obedient,
enslaved,
submissive,
subservient,
subjugated
in the sense of subservient
Definition
overeager to carry out someone else's wishes
He expects all the staff to be subservient to him.
Synonyms
servile,
submissive,
deferential,
subject,
inferior,
abject,
sycophantic,
slavish,
obsequious,
truckling,
bootlicking (informal)
in the sense of supplementary
the question of whether or not we need to take supplementary vitamins