What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dependent
Example
The child is dependent on their parents for food and shelter. [dependent: adjective]
Example
Because she lost her job, she became financially dependent on her husband. [dependent: adjective]
Example
The success of the project is dependent on the cooperation of all team members. [dependent: preposition]
subordinate
Example
As a subordinate, he had to follow his manager's orders. [subordinate: noun]
Example
The subordinate clause 'although it was raining' adds more information to the sentence. [subordinate: adjective]
Example
The company's goals are subordinate to the needs of its customers. [subordinate: preposition]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Dependent is more commonly used than subordinate in everyday language. Dependent has a broader range of meanings and can be used in various contexts, while subordinate is more specific and often used in formal or technical writing.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dependent and subordinate?
Subordinate is more formal than dependent and is often used in academic or technical writing to describe hierarchical relationships or grammatical structures.
