subordinate
pronunciation
How to pronounce subordinate in British English:
UK [səˈbɔːdɪnət , səˈbɔːdɪneɪt]
How to pronounce subordinate in American English:
US [səˈbɔːrdɪnət , səˈbɔːrdɪneɪt]
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- Noun:
- an assistant subject to the authority or control of another
- a word that is more specific than a given word
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- Verb:
- rank or order as less important or consider of less value
- make subordinate, dependent, or subservient
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- Adjective:
- lower in rank or importance
- subject or submissive to authority or the control of another
- of a clause; unable to stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence
- inferior in rank or status
Word Origin
- subordinate (adj.)
- mid-15c., "having an inferior rank," from Medieval Latin subordinatus "placed in a lower order, made subject," past participle of subordinare "place in a lower order," from Latin sub "under" (see sub-) + ordinare "arrange, set in order" (see ordain). Related: Subordinance; subordinant; subordinately. For "of or pertaining to the classificatory rank of a suborder," subordinal (1842) is used.
- subordinate (v.)
- "to bring into a subordinate position to something else, to make of less value, to make auxiliary or dependent," 1590s, from Medieval Latin subordinatus (see subordinate (adj.)). Related: Subordinated; subordinating.
- subordinate (n.)
- "one inferior in power, rank, office, etc.," 1630s, from subordinate (adj.).
Example
- 1. You criticize a subordinate in public .
- 2. Both parties did indeed call the affair between boss and subordinate consensual .
- 3. As his only subordinate , I argued that I should be appointed deputy chief economist .
- 4. He wasn 't charged in the case , but a subordinate was sentenced for conspiracy to commit murder .
- 5. Godbee 's predecessor was forced to resign in 2010 after complaints surfaced about a relationship with his subordinate .