SUBORDINATE
| Pronunciation (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does subordinate mean?
• SUBORDINATE (noun)
The noun SUBORDINATE has 2 senses:
1. an assistant subject to the authority or control of another
2. a word that is more specific than a given word
Familiarity information: SUBORDINATE used as a noun is rare.
• SUBORDINATE (adjective)
The adjective SUBORDINATE has 4 senses:
1. lower in rank or importance
2. subject or submissive to authority or the control of another
3. (of a clause) unable to stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence
4. inferior in rank or status
Familiarity information: SUBORDINATE used as an adjective is uncommon.
• SUBORDINATE (verb)
The verb SUBORDINATE has 2 senses:
1. rank or order as less important or consider of less value
2. make subordinate, dependent, or subservient
Familiarity information: SUBORDINATE used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• SUBORDINATE (noun)
Meaning:
An assistant subject to the authority or control of another
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
underling; subsidiary; subordinate; foot soldier
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"):
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)
Meaning:
A word that is more specific than a given word
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
hyponym; subordinate word; subordinate
Hypernyms ("subordinate" is a kind of...):
word (a unit of language that native speakers can identify)
• SUBORDINATE (adjective)
Meaning:
Lower in rank or importance
Synonyms:
subordinate; low-level
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)
Meaning:
Subject or submissive to authority or the control of another
Context example:
a subordinate kingdom
Similar:
dependent; subject (being under the power or sovereignty of another or others)
ruled (subject to a ruling authority)
feudatory (owing feudal allegiance to or being subject to a sovereign)
subservient (compliant and obedient to authority)
Also:
low-level; subordinate (lower in rank or importance)
submissive (inclined or willing to submit to orders or wishes of others or showing such inclination)
Antonym:
insubordinate (not submissive to authority)
Meaning:
(of a clause) unable to stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence
Synonyms:
subordinate; dependent
Context example:
a subordinate (or dependent) clause functions as a noun or adjective or adverb within a sentence
Domain category:
grammar (the branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology (and sometimes also deals with semantics or morphology))
Meaning:
Inferior in rank or status
Synonyms:
subaltern; junior-grade; lower-ranking; petty; secondary; lowly; inferior; subordinate
Context examples:
the junior faculty / a lowly corporal / petty officialdom / a subordinate functionary
Similar:
junior (younger; lower in rank; shorter in length of tenure or service)
• SUBORDINATE (verb)
Meaning:
Rank or order as less important or consider of less value
Classified under:
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Context example:
Art is sometimes subordinated to Science in these schools
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
Meaning:
Make subordinate, dependent, or subservient
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
subordinate; subdue
Context example:
Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler
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
