subordinate

Subordinate is part of the Academic Word List. It is important for students in college and university.

Pronunciation

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Adjective

Positive subordinate

Comparative more subordinate

Superlative most subordinate

1. If something is subordinate, it is less important than someone or something else.

   Keeping our natural world healthy remains subordinate to the health of the economy.

   In society a dominant group often ignores the wishes of subordinate groups.

Synonyms

• minor
• lesser
• lower

Antonyms

• major
• main
• dominant
• upper
• superordinate

See also

• subordinate clause

Noun

Singular subordinate

Plural subordinates

1. (countable) A subordinate is someone who is at a lower position in an organization.

   A good manager will talk with her subordinates before making most decisions.

Antonyms

• superior
• boss

Verb

Plain form subordinate

Third-person singular subordinates

Past tense subordinated

Past participle subordinated

Present participle subordinating

1. (transitive) If you subordinate $x$ to $y$, you give less importance to $x$ and more to $y$.

   When he fell in love, everything else was subordinated to it.

Related words

• subordination