subordinate

8 synonyms and 2 antonyms for subordinate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

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

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

dependent

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

subsidiary

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

subdue underling hyponym low-level foot soldier subordinate word

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adj

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

“Junior officers are subordinate to the captain.”

dependent subsidiary subdue underling hyponym low-level foot soldier subordinate word

Opposites

insubordinate dominant

2. noun

A person who works under someone else's authority.

“The manager delegated the task to one of her subordinates.”

hyponym subsidiary underling

3. 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.”

subdue

How to use subordinate

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

subordinate clause direct subordinate subordinate to

Etymology

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

Full origin of subordinate →

Frequently asked questions

What does “subordinate” mean?

The word “subordinate” means lower in rank, importance, or position; under the authority of someone else. In plain terms, lower in rank than something or someone else, or (as a noun) the person in that lower position.

How do you pronounce “subordinate”?

“Subordinate” is pronounced suh-BAW-dih-nuht (/səˈbɔɹdɪnət/ in IPA).

How do you use “subordinate” in a sentence?

Here is “subordinate” used in a sentence: “Junior officers are subordinate to the captain.”

What part of speech is “subordinate”?

Depending on how it is used, “subordinate” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “subordinate” come from?

The word “subordinate” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin subōrdinātus, from sub- ("under") plus ōrdināre ("to order, arrange").

Is “subordinate” a common word?

“Subordinate” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

How many meanings does “subordinate” have?

“Subordinate” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: lower in rank, importance, or position; under the authority of someone else.

Related words

inferior

People also searched

dependent dominant subsidiary subdue underling insubordinate hyponym

Nearby words

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