View synonyms for subordination

subordination

[ suh-bawr-dn-ey-shuhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the act of placing in a lower rank or position:
The refusal to allow women to be educated was part of society's subordination of women to men.
the act of subordinating, or of making dependent, secondary, or subservient.
the condition of being subordinated, or made dependent, secondary, or subservient.

subordination

The use of expressions that make one element of a sentence dependent on another. In the following sentence, the first (italicized) clause (also called a subordinate clause) is subordinate to the second clause: “ Despite all efforts toward a peaceful settlement of the dispute , war finally broke out.” ( Compare coordination , dependent clause , and independent clause .)

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Other Words From

non·sub·or·di·na·tion noun
pre·sub·or·di·na·tion noun
self-sub·or·di·na·tion noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of subordination¹

First recorded in 1425–75; from Late Latin subordination-, stem of subordinatio, equivalent to Medieval Latin subōrdināt(us), past participle of subōrdināre subordinate ( def ) + -iō -ion ( def )

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