subordinate

English

Pronunciation 1

• (UK) enPR: sə-bôʹdĭn-ət, IPA: /səˈbɔːdɪnət/, SAMPA: /s@"bO:dIn@t/
• (US) enPR: sə-bôrʹdĭn-ət, IPA: /səˈbɔrdɪnət/, SAMPA: /s@"bOrdIn@t/

• Audio (US)

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Adjective

subordinate (comparative more subordinate, superlative most subordinate)

1. Placed in a lower class, rank, or position.
2. Submissive to or controlled by authority.
3. (grammar, of a clause, not comparable) dependent on and either modifying or complementing the main clause

   In the sentence, “The barbecue finished before John arrived”, the subordinate clause “before John arrived” specifies the time of the main clause, “The barbecue finished”.

Synonyms

• (placed in a lower class, rank, or position): lesser
• (grammar, dependent on the main clause): dependent

Antonyms

• (placed in a lower class, rank, or position): superior, superordinate
• (Submissive to or controlled by authority): insubordinate
• (grammar, dependent on and either modifying or complementing the main clause): independent, main

Translations

placed in a lower class, rank, or position

Bosnian: potčinjen (bs) m. Danish: underordnet Dutch: ondergeschikt (nl) Finnish: alamainen (fi) French: subordonné (fr) m., subordonnée (fr) f., subordonnés (fr) m. pl., subordonnées (fr) f. pl.

Irish: fo-ordaithe (ga), íochtaránach (ga) Polish: podrzędny m., podrzędna f., podrzędne n. Spanish: subordinado (es) m. Swedish: underordnad (sv)

submissive to or controlled by authority

Bosnian: potčinjen (bs) m. Czech: podřízený (cs) m. Danish: underordnet Finnish: alamainen (fi), alisteinen (fi) Irish: fo-ordaithe (ga), íochtaránach (ga)

Kurdish: ژێرده‌سته‌ (ku) (jérdeste) Persian: زیردست (fa), فرودست (fa) Portuguese: subordinado (pt) m., subordinada (pt) f. Russian: подчинённый (ru) (podčinjonnyj) Swedish: underordnad (sv)

grammar: dependent

Bosnian: zavisan (bs) m. Finnish: alisteinen (fi)

Irish: fo-ordaithe (ga)

See also

• inferior

Noun

subordinate (plural subordinates)

1. (countable) One who is subordinate.

Synonyms

• (one who is subordinate): inferior, junior, report, underling, understrapper

Antonyms

• (one who is subordinate): boss, commander, leader, manager, superior, supervisor

Translations

one who is subordinate

Bosnian: potčinjeni (bs) m.

Pronunciation 2

• (UK) enPR: sə-bôʹdĭn-āt, IPA: /səˈbɔːdɪneɪt/, SAMPA: /s@"bO:dIneIt/
• (US) enPR: sə-bôrʹdĭn-āt, IPA: /səˈbɔrdɪneɪt/, SAMPA: /s@"bOrdIneIt/

Verb

subordinate (third-person singular simple present subordinates, present participle subordinating, simple past and past participle subordinated)

1. (transitive) To make subservient.
2. (transitive) To treat as of less value or importance.
3. (transitive, finance) To make of lower priority in order of payment in bankruptcy.

Synonyms

• (treat as of less value or importance): belittle, denigrate

Translations

To make subservient

Czech: podřídit (cs) Finnish: alistaa (fi) Irish: fo-ordaigh (ga)

Portuguese: subordinar (pt), submeter (pt), subjugar (pt), dominar (pt) Russian: подчинять (ru) (podčinjat') Swedish: underordna (sv)

To treat as of less value or importance

Irish: fo-ordaigh (ga)

Portuguese: subordinar (pt), submeter (pt), sujeitar (pt)

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Italian

Adjective

subordinate f.

1. Feminine plural form of subordinato

Verb

subordinate

1. second-person plural present indicative of subordinare
2. second-person plural imperative of subordinare
3. Feminine plural of subordinato

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Latin

Verb

subōrdināte

1. second-person plural present active imperative of subōrdinō