# subaltern

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈsʌb.əltən/ · frequency rank #73,668

## Definitions
1. Of a lower rank or position; inferior or secondary; especially (military) ranking as a junior officer, below the rank of captain.
2. Asserting only a part of what is asserted in a related proposition.

## Etymology
From Middle French subalterne, from Late Latin subalternus, from Latin sub- + alternus, from alter.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/subaltern