• synonyms


[adjective, noun suh-bawr-dn-it; verb suh-bawr-dn-eyt]
  2. of less importance; secondary.
  3. subject to or under the authority of a superior.
  4. subservient or inferior.
  5. subject; dependent.
  6. Grammar.
    1. acting as a modifier, as when I finished, which is subordinate to They were glad in They were glad when I finished.
    2. noting or pertaining to a subordinating conjunction.
  7. Obsolete. submissive.
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  1. a subordinate person or thing.
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verb (used with object), sub·or·di·nat·ed, sub·or·di·nat·ing.
  1. to place in a lower order or rank.
  2. to make secondary (usually followed by to): to subordinate work to pleasure.
  3. to make subject, subservient, or dependent (usually followed by to): to subordinate passion to reason.
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Origin of subordinate

1425–75; late Middle English (adj.) < Medieval Latin subōrdinātus past participle of subōrdināre to subordinate, equivalent to Latin sub- sub- + ōrdin- (stem of ōrdō) rank, order + -ātus -ate1
Related formssub·or·di·nate·ly, adverbsub·or·di·nate·ness, nounsub·or·di·na·tion, sub·or·di·na·cy [suh-bawr-dn-uh-see] /səˈbɔr dn ə si/, nounsub·or·di·na·tive [suh-bawr-dn-ey-tiv, -bawr-dn-uh-] /səˈbɔr dnˌeɪ tɪv, -ˈbɔr dn ə-/, adjectivenon·sub·or·di·nate, adjectivenon·sub·or·di·nat·ing, adjectivepre·sub·or·di·nate, verb (used with object), pre·sub·or·di·nat·ed, pre·sub·or·di·nat·ing.self-sub·or·di·nat·ing, adjectiveun·sub·or·di·nate, adjectiveun·sub·or·di·na·tive, adjective




British Dictionary definitions for subordinative


adjective (səˈbɔːdɪnɪt)
  1. of lesser order or importance
  2. under the authority or control of anothera subordinate functionary
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noun (səˈbɔːdɪnɪt)
  1. a person or thing that is subordinate
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verb (səˈbɔːdɪˌneɪt) (tr usually foll by to)
  1. to put in a lower rank or position (than)
  2. to make subservientto subordinate mind to heart
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Derived Formssubordinately, adverbsubordination or subordinateness, nounsubordinative, adjective

Word Origin

C15: from Medieval Latin subordināre, from Latin sub- + ordō rank

Word Origin and History for subordinative



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.

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"to bring into a subordinate position," 1590s; see subordinate (adj.). Related: Subordinated; subordinating.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper