subordinated

[suh-bawr-dn-ey-tid]

adjective

1. made secondary or subservient.

   Most college programs are geared to those aged 18 to 24, leaving others in a subordinated position in the system.

   She refused to settle for a subordinated life as an “office lady,” making copies and coffee for male coworkers and superiors.

2. Finance.,  being or relating to a debt whose holder is ranked below secured and general creditors with respect to priority of payment.

   Typically, in liquidation, subordinated debentures come after short-term debt.

Other Word Forms

• unsubordinated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of subordinated¹

First recorded in 1640–50 subordinated for def. 1; 1920–25 subordinated for def. 2; subordinate ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

That climate of deference fostered a culture of complicity, where questions of social responsibility were subordinated to uncritical faith in authority.

From Salon

“All the technical choices — framing decisions, uses of color and lighting techniques — he is able to apply them, but always subordinated to the director’s vision and, most importantly, to the needs of the film itself.”

From Los Angeles Times

Campaigns and candidates should be subordinated to progressive social movements, not the other way around.

From Salon

“In drawing these districts, the Florida Legislature subordinated traditional redistricting criteria and state constitutional requirements to race without narrowly tailoring the district lines to advance a compelling government interest,” the lawsuit said.

From Seattle Times

The bank is issuing A$550 million worth of subordinated fixed to floating rate securities and A$700 million worth of subordinated floating rate securities, both due in a decade.

From Reuters