Words / B2

s-uh-BORD-in-uh-t/səˈbɔːdɪnət/

Subordinate means lower in rank or importance; as a noun, a person you manage; in grammar, a subordinate clause: a subordinate clause; subordinate to. Inferior stresses quality; junior stresses rank and age. A subordinate clause cannot stand as a sentence. Verb: subordinate /səˈbɔːdɪneɪt/. Mix-up: inordinate means excessive; coordinate is equal rank or to organise. Do not write subordinate for “unimportant idea” without rank or grammar.

Meaning

Lower in rank or importance; also (noun) a person you manage; (grammar) a subordinate clause.

Examples

• “A subordinate clause cannot stand as a sentence in the SPaG mark scheme.”
• “She felt treated as a subordinate, which is the rank sense.”

Good to know

subordinate to; a subordinate clause / role. Grammar vs HR senses. Trap: coordinate / inordinate. SPaG and workplaces. Dependent or lower-ranking, not “too much”.

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