I. sub ‧ or ‧ di ‧ nate 1 AC /səˈbɔːdənət, səˈbɔːdɪnət $ -ˈbɔːr-/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ subordination , ↑ subordinate ; adjective : ↑ subordinate ]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Medieval Latin ; Origin: past participle of subordinare 'to subordinate' , from Latin ordinare ; ⇨ ↑ ordain ]
1 . in a less important position than someone else:
a subordinate officer
subordinate to
Women were subordinate to men.
2 . less important than something else SYN secondary
subordinate to
These aims were subordinate to the main aims of the mission.
II. subordinate 2 AC BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ subordination , ↑ subordinate ; adjective : ↑ subordinate ]
someone who has a lower position and less authority than someone else in an organization
III. sub ‧ or ‧ di ‧ nate 3 AC /səˈbɔːdəneɪt, səˈbɔːdɪneɪt $ -ˈbɔːr-/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ subordination , ↑ subordinate ; adjective : ↑ subordinate ]
to put someone or something in a less important position
subordinate somebody/something to somebody/something
Why subordinate your wishes to those of your family?
—subordination /səˌbɔːdəˈneɪʃ ə n, səˌbɔːdɪˈneɪʃ ə n $ -ˌbɔːr-/ noun [uncountable]