of lesser order or importance under the authority or control of another: a subordinate functionary
a person or thing that is subordinate
to put in a lower rank or position (than) to make subservient: to subordinate mind to heart
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
sub•or•di•nate /adj., n. səˈbɔrdənɪt; v. -dəˌneɪt/USA pronunciation
adj., n., v., -nat•ed, -nat•ing.
adj.
n. [countable]
v. [~ + object (+ to)]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026adj.
- being in a lower order or rank:He had to accept a subordinate post in the new administration.
- of less importance;
secondary:In some colleges teaching is considered subordinate to publications. - Grammaracting as a modifier in a grammatical construction, as when I finished in They were glad when I finished.
n. [countable]
- a subordinate person or thing:He's a subordinate to the district attorney.
v. [~ + object (+ to)]
- to place in a lower order or rank;
make secondary:He subordinated his desires for wealth to the opportunity to spend time with his family.
sub•or•di•nate
(adj., n. sə bôr′dn it;v. sə bôr′dn āt′),USA pronunciation adj., n., v., -nat•ed, -nat•ing.
adj.
n.
v.t.
sub•or′di•nate•ly, adv.
sub•or′di•nate•ness, n.
sub•or′di•na′tion, sub•or•di•na•cy
(sə bôr′dn ə sē),USA pronunciation n.
sub•or•di•na•tive
(sə bôr′dn ā′tiv, -bôr′dn ə-),USA pronunciation adj.
adj.
- placed in or belonging to a lower order or rank.
- of less importance;
secondary. - subject to or under the authority of a superior.
- subservient or inferior.
- subject;
dependent. - Grammar
- acting as a modifier, as when I finished, which is subordinate to They were glad in They were glad when I finished.
- noting or pertaining to a subordinating conjunction.
- [Obs.]submissive.
n.
- a subordinate person or thing.
v.t.
- to place in a lower order or rank.
- to make secondary (usually fol. by to):to subordinate work to pleasure.
- to make subject, subservient, or dependent (usually fol. by to):to subordinate passion to reason.
- Medieval Latin subōrdinātus past participle of subōrdināre to subordinate, equivalent. to Latin sub- sub- + ōrdin- (stem of ōrdō) rank, order + -ātus -ate1
- late Middle English (adjective, adjectival) 1425–75
sub•or′di•nate•ness, n.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged ancillary.
- 8.See corresponding entry in Unabridged inferior, subject.
- 9.See corresponding entry in Unabridged lower, reduce.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged superior; primary.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'subordinate part' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):