adj

subordinate

suh-BAW-dih-nuht

adj

Lower in rank, importance, or position; under the authority of someone else.

"Junior officers are subordinate to the captain."

noun

A person who works under someone else's authority.

"The manager delegated the task to one of her subordinates."

verb

To treat something as less important than something else, or to place it under another's control.

"He subordinated his own ambitions to support the family business."

How to Use Subordinate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLower in rank than something or someone else, or (as a noun) the person in that lower position.

Common pairings

subordinate clause direct subordinate subordinate to

more subordinate comparative, subordinated past tense, subordinates plural, subordinates singular, most subordinate superlative

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Junior officers are _____ to the captain.

From Medieval Latin subōrdinātus, from sub- ("under") plus ōrdināre ("to order, arrange").

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