Standard Lemma guide

subaltern

adj · noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈsʌb.əltən/
  • US: /sʌbˈɔltəɹn/
  • US: /ˈsʌbəltəɹn/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ʌbəltə(ɹ)n
  • rhymes with -ɔltə(ɹ)n

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of a lower rank or position; inferior or secondary; especially (military) ranking as a junior officer, below the rank of captain.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • a subaltern officer

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: subordinate

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Asserting only a part of what is asserted in a related proposition.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, logic, mathematics, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A subordinate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

A commissioned officer having a rank below that of captain; a lieutenant or second lieutenant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK

Topics: government, military, politics, war

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

A subaltern proposition; a proposition implied by a universal proposition.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, logic, mathematics, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: superaltern

6

noun

Meaning 6

A member of a group that is socially, politically and geographically outside of the hegemonic power structure of the colony and of the colonial homeland.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: literary theory

Topics: human-sciences, sciences, social-science, social-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

adjective satellite

Meaning 7

inferior in rank or status

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the junior faculty
  • a lowly corporal
  • petty officialdom
  • a subordinate functionary

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: junior-grade, lower-ranking, lowly, petty(a), secondary

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

a British commissioned army officer below the rank of captain

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: commissioned military officer

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: nuorempi — of a lower rank of position
  • French: subalterne — of a lower rank of position
  • German: Subaltern — of a lower rank of position
  • German: Subalternoffizier — of a lower rank of position
  • Russian: ста́рший лейтена́нт (stáršij lejtenánt) — of a lower rank of position
  • Spanish: subalterno — of a lower rank of position
  • Finnish: alisteinen — asserting only a part of what is asserted in a related proposition
  • Spanish: subalterno — subordinate
  • Ukrainian: підлеглий (pidlehlyj) — subordinate
  • Bulgarian: младши офицер (mladši oficer) — commissioned officer
  • Finnish: nuorempi upseeri — commissioned officer
  • Finnish: johtopäätös — proposition implied by a universal proposition
  • Finnish: siirtomaa-alamainen — member of a group outside a hegemonic power structure