subjacent

UK: /sʌbˈdʒeɪs^ənt/ US: (sub jā′sənt)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

sub•ja•cent  (sub jā′sənt), adj. 

1. situated or occurring underneath or below;
   underlying.
2. forming a basis.
3. lower than but not directly under something.

• Latin subjacent- (stem of subjacēns), present participle of subjacēre to underlie, equivalent. to sub- sub- + jac(ēre) to lie + -ent- -ent
• 1590–1600

sub•ja′cen•cy, n. 
sub•ja′cent•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

subjacent / sʌbˈdʒeɪs^ənt/ adjective

1. forming a foundation; underlying
2. lower than though not directly below

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin subjacēre to lie close, adjoin, be under, from sub- + jacēre to lie

subˈjacency noun

subˈjacently adverb