Phrase guide

subordinating conjunction

noun · 3 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

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A word that appears at the beginning of a subordinate clause and establishes its nature.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: grammar, human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

Examples

  • Near-synonym: subordinator

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: subordinator

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: conjunction

2

noun

Meaning 2

a conjunction (like `since' or `that' or `who') that introduces a dependent clause

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: subordinate conjunction

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: conjunction, conjunctive, connective, continuative

3

noun

Meaning 3

the subordination that occurs when a conjunction makes one linguistic unit a constituent of another

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: conjunction

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Breton: stagell isurzhiañ — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • Dutch: onderschikkend voegwoord — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • Finnish: alistuskonjunktio — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • French: conjonction de subordination — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • German: Subjunktion — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • German: unterordnendes Bindewort — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • German: unterordnende Konjunktion — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • German: subordinierende Konjunktion — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • Hungarian: alárendelő kötőszó — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • Icelandic: aukatenging — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • Italian: congiunzione subordinante — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • Khmer: ឈ្នាប់ឃ្លា (chnoap klie) — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • Persian: زیربنیسال — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • Polish: spójnik podrzędny — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • Romanian: conjuncție subordonatoare — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • Russian: подчини́тельный сою́з (podčinítelʹnyj sojúz) — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • Spanish: conjunción subordinante — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause
  • Swedish: subjunktion — a word establishing the nature of a subordinate clause