"Subordinate" is a common, highly formal word. I love it because of its importance in grammar and sentence structure: as writers, we're always thinking about which details to spotlight and which to subordinate, a process of arranging those details in a controlled, orderly way.

In general conversation, too, "subordinate" has a neat, tidy, businesslike tone.

To use the verb, we talk about people subordinating certain goals, values, interests, ambitions, and priorities to others that are more important. Here's Michael Hiltzik: "He bristled at subordinating his personal quest for the truth to the priorities of the group."

To use the adjective, we talk about subordinate workers, subordinate positions, subordinate levels, and people and things with a subordinate status. Or, say that one thing is subordinate to another. Here's Salon: "Since the Civil War, state power has been subordinate to federal power."

And when we use the noun, we most often talk about people as subordinates, as in "He manages fifteen subordinates" and "I'm not your subordinate."

"At various times, of course, the welfare of one or a few individuals is subordinated to the interests of the many in a democracy." 
  — William A. McClenaghan, Magruder's American Government, 1986

"Kaan's strategy was to surround Mutal and its subordinate city-states with a ring of enemies." 
  — Charles C. Mann, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus, 2005

"Come, come, my conservative friend, wipe the dew off your spectacles, and see that the world is moving... How can woman's position be changed from that of a subordinate to an equal, without opposition, without the broadest discussion of all the questions involved in her present degradation?" 
  — Elizabeth Cady Stanton, The Woman's Bible, 1895

has this page helped you understand "subordinate"?

Awesome, I'm glad it helped!

Thanks for letting me know!
If you have any questions about this term, please message me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.

study it:

Explain the meaning of "subordinate" without saying "rank below" or "deprioritize."

try it out:

In a review for the Washington Post, Michael Dirda described two novels by the same author, saying that in both, "action is subordinated to argument, as the characters converse about society, class, sex and marriage, religious belief and human evolution."

Personally, I wouldn't want to read those books. I'd rather read a story in which argument and conversation have been subordinated to action. 

How about you? Is your favorite type of fiction book more action-based, with the conversation subordinated to it; or more conversation-based, with the action subordinated to it?

If you like, use this space to write. (To save your work, copy and paste it into an email or a document.)

before you review, play:

Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.

Our game this month is "What Are You Implying?"

Build your word-finding muscle as you reach for synonyms for various implications.

For example, what's a synonym for "living thing" that
   1. ...implies that someone made it?
   2. ...implies that it simply exists?
   3. ...implies that it has an intangible essence?

Your answers could be 1. "creature," 2. "being," and 3. "soul."

Try these today:

What's a synonym for "cruel" that
   1. ...implies that someone completely lacks the physical capacity for kindness?
   2. ...implies that someone exerts complete control over everyone and everything? 
   3. ...implies that someone's skin has grown too thick to allow emotions such as sympathy to pass through it? 

To see some possible answers, scroll all the way down.

review this word:

1. The precise opposite of SUBORDINATE is the rare word SUPERORDINATE, which in its verb, adjective, and noun forms, respectively, means

A. to eat first, eaten first, or something eaten first.
B. to place above, placed above, or something placed above.
C. to speak loudly, spoken loudly, or something spoken loudly.

2. Phillip Carter pointed out that "the American military culture emphasizes duty, loyalty and respect for the chain of command. Dissent and introspection have their place, but these values are subordinated _____ mission accomplishment."

A. in
B. to
C. with

Answers to the review questions: 1. B 2. B From the game: Lots of good answers are possible! Here are mine:    1. ...implies that someone completely lacks the physical capacity for kindness? "Heartless."    2. ...implies that someone exerts complete control over everyone and everything? "Tyrannical."    3. ...implies that someone's skin has grown too thick to allow emotions such as sympathy to pass through it? "Callous."

a final word:

I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love. I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From my blog: On vocabulary...       36 ways to study words.       Why we forget words, & how to remember them.       How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. On writing...       How to improve any sentence.       How to motivate our kids to write.       How to stop procrastinating and start writing.       How to bulk up your writing when you have to meet a word count. From my heart: a profound thanks to the generous patrons, donors, and sponsors that make it possible for me to write these emails. If you'd like to be a patron or a donor, please click here. If you'd like to be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. A disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.