subordinate
/səˈbɔɹdɪnət/adjective, noun, verb
subordinate is spelled S-U-B-O-R-D-I-N-A-T-E: 11 letters and 4 syllables. It appears 2.8 times per million words in written English, the 16,005th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, subordinate means “Placed in a lower class, rank, or position” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in subordinate?
| Letters | 11: S-U-B-O-R-D-I-N-A-T-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 4 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 2.8 times per million words; the 16,005th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is subordinate?
Subordinate appears 2.8 times per million words in written English, the 16,005th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce subordinate?
- UK /səˈbɔːdɪnət/
- US /səˈbɔɹdɪnət/
- Australia /səˈboːdɪnət/
As a verb (“To embed (a clause) into another clause that is the main one”): /səˈbɔːdɪneɪt/, /səˈbɔɹdɪneɪt/, /səˈboːdɪnæɪt/.
Subordinate has 4 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-subordinate_(verb).wav, En-us-subordinate.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of subordinate
- more subordinate comparative
- most subordinate superlative
- subordinates plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- subordinating participle, present
- subordinated participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does subordinate mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Placed in a lower class, rank, or position.
- 2
Submissive or inferior to, or controlled by authority.
November 9, 1662, Robert South, Of the Creation of Man in the Image of God It was subordinate, not enslaved, to the understanding.
- 3
dependent on and either modifying or complementing the main clause
In the sentence “The barbecue finished before John arrived”, the subordinate clause “before John arrived” specifies the time of the main clause, “The barbecue finished”.
- 4
Descending in a regular series.
noun
- 1
One who is subordinate.
- 2
A hyponym.
verb
- 1
To embed (a clause) into another clause that is the main one.
- 2
To make of lower priority in order of payment in bankruptcy.
- 3
To treat (someone) as of less value or importance.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Subordinate in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | subordonné , subordonnée, subordonnés, subordonnées |
| German | untergeordnet, nachgeordnet , Untergebene, Befehlsempfänger |
| Portuguese | subordinado , subordinada , subordinar, submeter, subjugar, dominar |
| Spanish | subordinado , subordinar, supeditar |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does subordinate come from?
From Middle English subordinat, from Medieval Latin subōrdinātus, past participle of subōrdināre, from sub- + ōrdināre (“to order”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).