subordinate — lower in rank or position; of less importance
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: lower in rank or position; of less importance
Pronunciation (IPA): /səˈbɔːrdɪnət/
Example Sentences
- The intern realized his subordinate status when he was asked to fetch coffee for the entire board meeting.
- In the military, soldiers must follow orders from their superiors and show respect to subordinates.
- She refused to subordinate her dreams to her parents' expectations.
subordinate
ADJECTIVE[/səˈbɔːrdɪnət/]
lower in rank or position; of less importance

The manager assigns tasks to her subordinate before the morning meeting.

The subordinate tries to coordinate, but the boss makes inordinate demands!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'subordinatus', past participle of 'subordinare', meaning 'to place in a lower order'. Composed of 'sub-' (under) and 'ordinare' (to order, arrange).
Breakdown
sub- (under) + ordin- (order, rank) + -ate (verb/adjective suffix) = subordinate
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The intern realized his subordinate status when he was asked to fetch coffee for the entire board meeting.”
“In the military, soldiers must follow orders from their superiors and show respect to subordinates.”
“She refused to subordinate her dreams to her parents' expectations.”
“The cat clearly considered the dog a subordinate species, despite being half its size.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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