subordinate
adjective
1. lower in rank or importance
Similar word(s): adjunct, assistant, associate, secondary, under, subordinate, inferior
2. subject or submissive to authority or the control of another
- a subordinate kingdom
Similar word(s): submissive, subordinate, feudatory, ruled, dependent, subject, subservient
3. (of a clause) unable to stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence
- a subordinate (or dependent) clause functions as a noun or adjective or adverb within a sentence
Similar word(s): dependent
Sentences with subordinate as an adjective:
- 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”.
noun
1. an assistant subject to the authority or control of another
Similar word(s): subsidiary, underling
Definition categories: person, assistant, help, helper, supporter
2. a word that is more specific than a given word
Similar word(s): hyponym
Definition categories: communication, word
verb
1. rank or order as less important or consider of less value
- Art is sometimes subordinated to Science in these schools
Definition categories: cognition, grade, order, place, range, rank, rate
2. make subordinate, dependent, or subservient
- Our wishes have to be subordinated to that of our ruler
Similar word(s): subdue