subordinate — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Placed in a lower class, rank, or position.

   Synonyms

   lessersubalternpetty

   Antonyms

   superiorsuperordinate

   Examples

   The several kinds […] and subordinate species of each are easily known.

2. Submissive or inferior to, or controlled by authority.

   Antonyms

   insubordinate

   Examples

   November 9, 1662, Robert South, Of the Creation of Man in the Image of God It was subordinate, not enslaved, to the understanding.

   More examples (1)

   However, his main point is clearly that the political organization should be subordinate to the real aspirations of the working class and should not be allowed to claim that it expresses those aspirations by virtue of its own 'scientific' omniscience, regardless of what the empirical 'masses' actually think.

3. dependent on and either modifying or complementing the main clause

   Usage

   • not-comparable
   • of a clause

   Synonyms

   dependent

   Antonyms

   independentmain

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   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”.

4. Descending in a regular series.

Noun

1. One who is subordinate.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Synonyms

   inferiorjuniorreportsubalternunderlingunderstrapper

   Antonyms

   bosscommanderleadermanagersuperiorsuperordinatesupervisor

2. A hyponym.

   Antonyms

   hypernymhyperonymsuperordinate

Verb

1. To make subservient or secondary. To embed (a clause) into another clause that is the main one.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Broader terms

   complementize

2. To make subservient or secondary. To make of lower priority in order of payment in bankruptcy.

   Usage

   • Transitive

3. To treat (someone) as of less value or importance.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Synonyms

   belittledenigrate

Adjective

1. lower in rank or importance

   Synonyms

   low-level

   Antonyms

   dominant

2. subject or submissive to authority or the control of another

   Antonyms

   insubordinate

   Examples

   a subordinate kingdom

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

   Synonyms

   dependent

   Examples

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

Noun

1. an assistant subject to the authority or control of another

   Synonyms

   subsidiaryunderlingfoot soldier

   Broader terms

   assistanthelperhelpsupporter

2. a word that is more specific than a given word

   Synonyms

   hyponymsubordinate word

   Broader terms

   word

Verb

1. rank or order as less important or consider of less value

   Broader terms

   raterankrangeordergradeplace

   Examples

   Art is sometimes subordinated to Science in these schools

2. make subordinate, dependent, or subservient

   Synonyms

   subdue

   Broader terms

   lowerlour

   Examples

   Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler