rhizoverbBeta
DictionarysubordinateLower rank or importance
adjective / noun / verb

subordinate

suh-BOR-dih-nut/səˈbɔːrdɪnət/

Dependent on something higher in rank.

The subordinate employee receives a task from the manager.

Employee receives task under manager authority; simple rank relation reinforces adjective.
Etymology
subLatinunder
+ordinateLatinarrange, set in order

“Under” plus “arrange” gives the image of being placed in a lower order or rank. The adjective describes a position dependent on another, whether in authority or importance.

In context

WikiAudio1:14
a military officer leading an entire army or the entire armed forces of a Nation usually only subordinate to The Sovereign
Generalissimo

More examples

  • The supervisor asks a subordinate to prepare the report.
  • We subordinate personal preferences to the needs of the team.
  • A subordinate clause depends on a main clause.

Forms

subordinate · subordinates · subordinated · subordinating

subordination noun — Placement in a lower rank or position.

Similar words

inferior
Emphasizes lower rank or quality, not necessarily direct dependence.
junior
Usually indicates lower rank or less experience within an organization.
dependent
Emphasizes reliance on something else rather than lower rank.