subordinate
Describes someone or something that is lower in rank, status, or importance than another. It is frequently used to define positions within a hierarchy or to describe secondary elements in a structure, such as a sentence or an organization.
Exemples
3 sur 5In many traditional companies, personal needs are often subordinate to the needs of the corporation.
In many old-fashioned businesses, personal requirements are considered less important than company goals.
The director insisted that all subordinate officers submit their reports by Friday evening.
The person in charge demanded that all lower-ranking officials hand in their documents by the end of the week.
I'm sick of my social life being subordinate to my stressful 60-hour work week.
I am tired of my time with friends being less important than my difficult job.
Famille de mots
Astuce mémo
Think of a 'sub' (meaning under, like a submarine) that follows 'orders' (rank). It describes being under the orders of another.
Quiz rapide
In the company's hierarchy, the assistant manager is ______ to the general manager.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : subordinate
Exemples
In many traditional companies, personal needs are often subordinate to the needs of the corporation.
everydayIn many old-fashioned businesses, personal requirements are considered less important than company goals.
The director insisted that all subordinate officers submit their reports by Friday evening.
formalThe person in charge demanded that all lower-ranking officials hand in their documents by the end of the week.
I'm sick of my social life being subordinate to my stressful 60-hour work week.
informalI am tired of my time with friends being less important than my difficult job.
A complex sentence consists of at least one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
academicA complicated sentence has one primary part and one or more dependent parts that cannot stand alone.
The manager delegated the administrative tasks to her subordinate staff to focus on strategy.
businessThe leader gave the paperwork to her lower-level employees so she could focus on long-term planning.
Famille de mots
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
subordinate to
lower in importance compared to something else
in a subordinate capacity
working in a lower-level role
treat as subordinate
to act as if someone or something is of lesser value
Souvent confondu avec
Subordinate refers to objective rank or importance, whereas subservient implies a submissive or overly obedient attitude.
Coordinate refers to things of equal rank, while subordinate refers to things of lower rank.
Notes d'usage
When used as an adjective or noun, the final syllable is pronounced with a short /ət/ sound. When used as a verb, it is pronounced with a long /eɪt/ sound.
Erreurs courantes
Learners often forget that 'subordinate' can be followed by the preposition 'to' when indicating what the subject is lower than.
Astuce mémo
Think of a 'sub' (meaning under, like a submarine) that follows 'orders' (rank). It describes being under the orders of another.
Origine du mot
From the Late Latin 'subordinatus', meaning 'placed in a lower order'.
Modèles grammaticaux
Contexte culturel
In many Western corporate structures, 'subordinate' is often replaced by 'direct report' or 'team member' to sound more inclusive and less hierarchical.
Quiz rapide
In the company's hierarchy, the assistant manager is ______ to the general manager.
Correct !
La bonne réponse est : subordinate
Vocabulaire associé
Mots lis
boned
B2Primarily used as an adjective, 'boned' describes something that has a specific type of skeletal structure or a piece of meat from which the bones have been removed. In the context of garments, it refers to items reinforced with stiff strips, such as a corset, to maintain a specific shape.
boneyard
B2A boneyard is a place where old, discarded, or obsolete items—typically large machinery like aircraft or vehicles—are stored or dismantled for parts. It is also an informal or regional term for a cemetery or burial ground.
bonfire
B2A large, controlled outdoor fire lit for celebration, signaling, or to dispose of garden waste. It is typically much larger than a standard campfire and is often the centerpiece of a social or cultural event.
bongo
B2To play the bongo drums or to strike a surface rhythmically and repeatedly with the fingers or palms. In academic or technical contexts, it often refers to the specific percussive action used in ethnomusicology or the observation of rhythmic motor patterns in behavioral studies.
bonito
B2A bonito is a medium-sized, predatory marine fish belonging to the Scombridae family, which also includes tuna and mackerel. In culinary contexts, it is most famous for being dried, fermented, and smoked to create flakes used in Japanese stocks and seasonings.
bonkers
B2An informal adjective used to describe someone or something that is crazy, insane, or highly eccentric. It can refer to a person's mental state, a chaotic situation, or an idea that seems completely absurd or wild.
bonny
B2An adjective primarily used in British and Scottish English to describe someone, especially a woman or child, who is physically attractive, healthy, and cheerful. It conveys a sense of natural beauty combined with a robust or wholesome appearance.
bonsai
B2Relating to the Japanese art of growing miniature trees in containers through careful pruning and wiring. When used as an adjective, it describes plants or objects that have been miniaturized or styled according to these aesthetic principles.
bony
B2Describes someone or a part of the body that is very thin, allowing the underlying bone structure to be seen or felt. It also refers to anything made of or resembling bone, particularly in biological or anatomical contexts.
boo
B2In informal contexts, 'boo' can be used as an adjective to describe something that is disappointing, poor in quality, or undesirable. It is more commonly recognized as a sound of disapproval or a slang term of endearment, but its use as a descriptor for 'bad' is found in specific colloquial dialects.
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