subordinate
/səˈbɔːdɪnət/
"subordinate" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“subordinate” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #16,145 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.
- #16,145
- frequency rank, English
- 11
- letters
- 16
- tracked misspellings
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Placed in a lower class, rank, or position.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | subordinate |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Adjective |
| IPA | /səˈbɔːdɪnət/ |
| Letters | 11 |
| Frequency rank | #16,145 |
| Misspellings tracked | 16 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “subordinate” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for subordinate is 11 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /səˈbɔːdɪnət/. Corpus data places it at rank #16,145 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our generated misspelling index lists 16 likely wrong-spelling variants for subordinate, with forms such as "sbuordinate", "ssubordinate", and "subbordinate". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.
Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English subordinat, from Medieval Latin subōrdinātus, past participle of subōrdināre, from sub- + ōrdināre (“to order”). The correct English form is subordinate, spelled S-U-B-O-R-D-I-N-A-T-E.
Definition
- 1Placed in a lower class, rank, or position.
- 2Submissive or inferior to, or controlled by authority.
- 3dependent on and either modifying or complementing the main clause
- 4Descending in a regular series.
Etymology
From Middle English subordinat, from Medieval Latin subōrdinātus, past participle of subōrdināre, from sub- + ōrdināre (“to order”).
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: sbuordinate,ssubordinate,subbordinate,subodrinate,suborddinate,subordiante,subordinaet,subordinatte,subordinnate,subordintae,subordniate,suboridnate,suborrdinate,subrodinate,suobrdinate,usbordinate
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of subordinate - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "subordinate"?
What does "subordinate" mean?
What are common misspellings of "subordinate"?
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Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “subordinate”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is S-U-B-O-R-D-I-N-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /səˈbɔːdɪnət/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.