adjective
- placed in or belonging to a lower order or rank.
- of less importance; secondary.
- subject to or under the authority of a superior.
- subservient or inferior.
- subject; dependent.
- Grammar.
- acting as a modifier, as when I finished, which is subordinate to They were glad in They were glad when I finished.
- noting or pertaining to a subordinating conjunction.
- Obsolete. submissive.
noun
- a subordinate person or thing.
verb (used with object), sub·or·di·nat·ed, sub·or·di·nat·ing.
- to place in a lower order or rank.
- to make secondary (usually followed by to): to subordinate work to pleasure.
- to make subject, subservient, or dependent (usually followed by to): to subordinate passion to reason.
adjective (səˈbɔːdɪnɪt)
- of lesser order or importance
- under the authority or control of anothera subordinate functionary
noun (səˈbɔːdɪnɪt)
- a person or thing that is subordinate
verb (səˈbɔːdɪˌneɪt) (tr usually foll by to)
- to put in a lower rank or position (than)
- to make subservientto subordinate mind to heart
adj.mid-15c., 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” (see ordain). Related: Subordinance; subordinant. v.“to bring into a subordinate position,” 1590s; see subordinate (adj.). Related: Subordinated; subordinating.