Library / English Dictionary

SUBORDINATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A word that is more specific than a given word

Synonyms:

hyponym; subordinate; subordinate word

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

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

word (a unit of language that native speakers can identify)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An assistant subject to the authority or control of another

Synonyms:

foot soldier; subordinate; subsidiary; underling

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

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

assistant; help; helper; supporter (a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "subordinate"):

associate (a person with subordinate membership in a society, institution, or commercial enterprise)

bottom dog (a person of low status)

cog (a subordinate who performs an important but routine function)

man (a male subordinate)

second banana; second fiddle (someone who serves in a subordinate capacity or plays a secondary role)

Derivation:

subordinate (make subordinate, dependent, or subservient)

subordinate (rank or order as less important or consider of less value)

subordinate (lower in rank or importance)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

(of a clause) unable to stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence

Example:

a subordinate (or dependent) clause functions as a noun or adjective or adverb within a sentence

Synonyms:

dependent; subordinate

Classified under:

Adjectives

Domain category:

grammar (the branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology (and sometimes also deals with semantics))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lower in rank or importance

Synonyms:

low-level; subordinate

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

under (lower in rank, power, or authority)

secondary (belonging to a lower class or rank)

associate (having partial rights and privileges or subordinate status)

adjunct; assistant (of or relating to a person who is subordinate to another)

Also:

subordinate (subject or submissive to authority or the control of another)

inferior (of or characteristic of low rank or importance)

Attribute:

position; status (the relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society)

Antonym:

dominant (exercising influence or control)

Derivation:

subordinate (an assistant subject to the authority or control of another)

subordinateness (secondary importance)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Subject or submissive to authority or the control of another

Example:

a subordinate kingdom

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

feudatory (owing feudal allegiance to or being subject to a sovereign)

ruled (subject to a ruling authority)

dependent; subject (being under the power or sovereignty of another or others)

subservient (compliant and obedient to authority)

Also:

submissive (inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others or showing such inclination)

low-level; subordinate (lower in rank or importance)

Antonym:

insubordinate (not submissive to authority)

 III. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make subordinate, dependent, or subservient

Example:

Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler

Synonyms:

subdue; subordinate

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "subordinate" is one way to...):

lour; lower (set lower)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

subordinate (an assistant subject to the authority or control of another)

subordination (the act of mastering or subordinating someone)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Rank or order as less important or consider of less value

Example:

Art is sometimes subordinated to Science in these schools

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "subordinate" is one way to...):

grade; order; place; range; rank; rate (assign a rank or rating to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "subordinate"):

outclass (cause to appear in a lower class)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

subordinate (an assistant subject to the authority or control of another)

subordination (the state of being subordinate to something)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Some other companion than Mr. Rushworth was of the first consequence to his lady; and Julia was quite as eager for novelty and pleasure as Maria, though she might not have struggled through so much to obtain them, and could better bear a subordinate situation.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

What I particularly request Mr. Micawber to be careful of, is, said Mrs. Micawber, that he does not, my dear Mr. Copperfield, in applying himself to this subordinate branch of the law, place it out of his power to rise, ultimately, to the top of the tree.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

We removed to Windsor; and two days afterwards I received a parcel from her, my own letters all returned!—and a few lines at the same time by the post, stating her extreme surprize at not having had the smallest reply to her last; and adding, that as silence on such a point could not be misconstrued, and as it must be equally desirable to both to have every subordinate arrangement concluded as soon as possible, she now sent me, by a safe conveyance, all my letters, and requested, that if I could not directly command hers, so as to send them to Highbury within a week, I would forward them after that period to her at—: in short, the full direction to Mr. Smallridge's, near Bristol, stared me in the face.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I am not sure if a subordinate will give you problems or if your client will send you down the wrong path and then change the direction.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The study shows an average subordinate spends more than six days each year in the wilderness, with this figure rising year-on-year.

(Breeder meerkats age faster, but their subordinates still die younger, University of Cambridge)

But I am I, and I won't subordinate my taste to the unanimous judgment of mankind.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I was thinking, sir, that very few masters would trouble themselves to inquire whether or not their paid subordinates were piqued and hurt by their orders.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

It had been arranged, therefore, that in such a case his two subordinates were to make for some prearranged spot where they could escape investigation and be in a position afterwards to renew their attempt.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The January 10 eclipse also may bring changes at the office with a trusted subordinate suddenly leaving.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Subordinate meerkats die due to sudden, unpredictable circumstances such as exposure to predators, killing them instantly.

(Breeder meerkats age faster, but their subordinates still die younger, University of Cambridge)