subordinate

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Lower in rank, position, or importance than someone or something else.

   In the army, junior officers are subordinate to the generals.

2. 2
   verb

   To treat something as less important than something else.

   She subordinated her own plans to the needs of her family.

3. 3
   adj

   (of a clause) unable to stand alone as a complete sentence.

   In "She left before he arrived," the subordinate clause is "before he arrived."

From Middle English subordinat, from Medieval Latin subōrdinātus, past participle of subōrdināre, from sub- + ōrdināre (“to order”).

Topics