Menu

Subordinate for Dummies

adjective

pronunciation: səb'oʊdən,eɪt

What does Subordinate really mean?

95 1
95

Hi there! I'm here to explain what the word "subordinate" means to you. So let's dive right in and break it down into easy and simple terms that you'll understand, okay?

Think about a group of people, like a team or a class. In any group, there is usually a person or a few people who have more power or authority than others. These people are called "superiors" because they have higher positions or ranks. On the other hand, there are also those who have less power or authority, and they are called "subordinates." So, a subordinate is someone who has a lower position, rank, or authority compared to others in a group.

To put it in simpler terms, think of a school. The principal is the superior because they have more power and authority than the teachers, right? But the teachers are the subordinates because they have less power and authority than the principal. Does that make sense so far?

Now, let's explore another meaning of the word "subordinate." Have you ever heard of a "subordinate clause" or a "subordinate conjunction"? These are a bit trickier to understand, but I'll do my best to make it easy for you.

Imagine you're telling a story, and it has a main part and some additional details that are not as important. The main part carries most of the meaning, while the additional details provide extra information but can also stand on their own. The main part is like the "independent" clause, and the additional details are like the "subordinate" clause. The "subordinate clause" relies on the main clause to make complete sense.

Let me give you an example. Imagine you're telling someone about your day. You might say, "I went to the park after I finished my homework." The main part of the sentence is "I went to the park." But the extra information, "after I finished my homework," is the subordinate clause. It adds more details and explains when you went to the park, but it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.

So there you have it! The word "subordinate" means someone who has a lower position or authority within a group, and it can also refer to an additional set of details that rely on the main part of a sentence to make sense. I hope that clears things up for you! Do you have any other questions or anything else you'd like me to explain?


Revised and Fact checked by David Anderson on 2023-10-28 22:06:39

Subordinate In a sentece

Learn how to use Subordinate inside a sentece

  • In a team, the player who follows the instructions of the coach is a subordinate.
  • A secretary at an office helps the boss with tasks and is a subordinate of the boss.
  • In a restaurant, the waiter takes orders from the chef and is a subordinate to the chef.
  • In a school, the students listen to their teacher and follow their directions, so the students are subordinates.
  • A firefighter follows the instructions of their captain at the fire station, and therefore the firefighter is a subordinate.

Subordinate Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Subordinate Antonyms

Words that have the opposite context of the original word.

Subordinate Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Subordinate Hyponyms

Words that are more specific than the original word.

Subordinate Similar Words

Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.

Subordinate Category

The domain category to which the original word belongs.