subordinate Definition
- 1lower in rank or position
- 2treat or regard as of lesser importance than something else
Using subordinate: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "subordinate" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She was subordinate to the CEO.
Example
The needs of the individual are subordinate to the needs of the group.
Example
The subordinate clause modifies the main clause.
Example
He has a subordinate role in the company.
subordinate Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using subordinate
subordinate oneself to someone/something
to willingly submit to the authority or control of someone or something
Example
He had to subordinate himself to the rules of the organization.
having no equal or superior
Example
The company's commitment to quality is subordinate to none.
a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and functions within a sentence as a noun, adjective, or adverb
Example
In the sentence 'Although he was tired, he stayed up late to finish his work,' 'Although he was tired' is a subordinate clause.
Phrases with subordinate
a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and functions within a sentence as a noun, adjective, or adverb
Example
In the sentence 'Although he was tired, he stayed up late to finish his work,' 'Although he was tired' is a subordinate clause.
a word that connects a subordinate clause to a main clause, such as 'although', 'because', 'if', 'when', and 'while'
Example
In the sentence 'Although he was tired, he stayed up late to finish his work,' 'although' is a subordinate conjunction.
subordinate species
a taxonomic rank below species, used to classify organisms that are very similar but not identical
Example
The red fox and the gray fox are two subordinate species of the genus Vulpes.
Origins of subordinate
from Latin 'subordinatus', meaning 'placed in a lower order'
Summary: subordinate in Brief
The term 'subordinate' [səˈbɔːdɪnət] refers to being lower in rank or position, or treating something as of lesser importance. It can be used to describe people, roles, clauses, and species. Examples include 'She was subordinate to the CEO.' and 'The subordinate clause modifies the main clause.' Idioms like 'subordinate oneself to someone/something' denote submission, while 'subordinate to none' implies superiority.
