Library / English Dictionary

SUBALTERN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A British commissioned army officer below the rank of captain

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("subaltern" is a kind of...):

commissioned military officer (a commissioned officer in the Army or Air Force or Marine Corps)

Domain category:

armed forces; armed services; military; military machine; war machine (the military forces of a nation)

Derivation:

subaltern (inferior in rank or status)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Inferior in rank or status

Example:

a subordinate functionary

Synonyms:

junior-grade; lower-ranking; lowly; petty; secondary; subaltern

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

junior (younger; lower in rank; shorter in length of tenure or service)

Derivation:

subaltern (a British commissioned army officer below the rank of captain)

Credits