WordGarden.iosubordinate
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /səˈbɔːdɪneɪt/transitiveverb
US
- /səˈbɔrdəˌneɪt/
Meanings
Adjective
lower in rank or authority than someone else
less important, secondary, or dependent on something else
grammatically dependent on a main clause or head word
Noun
a person under the authority of someone higher in rank
Verb
to put under another's authority or treat as less important
Beyond the definition
Imagine a busy kitchen. The head chef gives orders, but not every instruction comes straight from the top. The head chef may tell the sous chef what to do, and the sous chef then guides the cooks. Those cooks are subordinate to the sous chef, and the whole team is subordinate to the head chef. The word usually means being lower in rank or position and taking direction from someone else.
A subordinate is not necessarily "lesser," just placed below someone else in a system. You might be subordinate to your manager at work. The word can also describe something that is less important than something else, like a small detail being subordinate to the main point of a story.
The word subordinate has several layers of meaning, all revolving around the idea of being under the control, authority, or importance of another. Most commonly, it describes someone lower in rank within an organization or system. Think of a military structure: a private is subordinate to a sergeant, who is subordinate to a lieutenant. This isn't necessarily about individual skill; it's about the chain of command. The new recruit was eager to prove himself to his superiors, diligently fulfilling his duties while working in a subordinate position.
However, subordinate doesn't always refer to a formal human hierarchy. It can also describe anything that is secondary or dependent on something else for support or existence. For example, in literature, supporting characters are often subordinate to the development of the protagonist—they serve to enhance the main hero's journey rather than being the central focus.
As an adjective, it highlights priority: "Secondary concerns were subordinate to the primary goal of completing the project on time." You can also use it as a noun to refer to someone who is under another's authority, such as in the sentence, "The manager was well-liked because she treated her subordinates with respect." Finally, as a verb, it means to place something in a lower rank: "He was forced to subordinate his personal desires to the needs of his family."
Whether describing a workplace structure, a relationship between ideas, or the act of prioritizing, subordinate highlights a position of dependence or secondary importance. It's about acknowledging where the power—or the main focus—lies.
Examples
- 1
Workplace hierarchy
Junior staff are subordinate to the department manager.
- 2
Management
A good manager listens to subordinates instead of simply giving them orders.
- 3
Institutional role
In the old system, local councils played a subordinate role.
- 4
Design priorities
In the final design, style was subordinate to comfort.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Personal priorities
She refused to subordinate her own needs to the demands of the job.
- Patternsubordinate A to B
treat A as less important than B
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- subordinate role
- subordinate position
- subordinate to
Word family
Explore
- hierarchy
- chain of command
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- subordinatenounverbadjective
Forms
- subordinatespluralnounverbadjective
- subordinatedpast tenseverbnounadjective
- subordinating-ing formverbnounadjective