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
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Received-Pronunciation:/səˌbɔːdɪˈneɪʃn̩/
Canada, General-American:/səˌbɔɹdəˈneɪʃn̩/
Midwestern-US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian:/səˌboːdɪˈnæɪʃn̩/
New-Zealand:/səˌboːdəˈnæɪʃn̩/
rhymes with -eɪʃən
CMU ARPABET:S AH0 B AO2 R D AH0 N EY1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The process of making or classing (something or somebody) as subordinate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The property of being subordinate; inferiority of rank or position.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The quality of being properly obedient to a superior (as a superior officer); this quality as a systemic principle of discipline within a hierarchical organization.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
the act of mastering or subordinating someone
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: mastery
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: domination
5
noun
Meaning 5
the quality of obedient submissiveness
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: insubordination
Broader terms: submissiveness
6
noun
Meaning 6
the grammatical relation of a modifying word or phrase to its head
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: grammatical relation
7
noun
Meaning 7
the semantic relation of being subordinate or belonging to a lower rank or class
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: hyponymy
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: semantic relation
8
noun
Meaning 8
the state of being subordinate to something
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: dependence, dependance, dependency
History
Etymology
From Middle French subordination, from Medieval Latin subordinatio.
Across languages
Translations
32 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Belarusian:
падпара́дкаванне
(padparádkavannje)
— process of making or classing as subordinate
Belarusian:
паднача́ленне
(padnačáljennje)
— process of making or classing as subordinate
Finnish:
alistaminen
— process of making or classing as subordinate
Hungarian:
alárendelés
— process of making or classing as subordinate
Polish:
podporządkowanie
— process of making or classing as subordinate
Polish:
podporządkowywanie
— process of making or classing as subordinate
Russian:
подчине́ние
(podčinénije)
— process of making or classing as subordinate
Ukrainian:
підпорядкува́ння
(pidporjadkuvánnja)
— process of making or classing as subordinate
Ukrainian:
підпорядко́вування
(pidporjadkóvuvannja)
— process of making or classing as subordinate
Belarusian:
падпара́дкаванне
(padparádkavannje)
— property of being subordinate
Belarusian:
падпара́дкаванасць
(padparádkavanascʹ)
— property of being subordinate
Belarusian:
паднача́ленне
(padnačáljennje)
— property of being subordinate
Belarusian:
паднача́ленасць
(padnačáljenascʹ)
— property of being subordinate
Bulgarian:
подчинение
(podčinenie)
— property of being subordinate
Dutch:
ondergeschikt
— property of being subordinate
Finnish:
alisteisuus
— property of being subordinate
Finnish:
alaisuus
— property of being subordinate
Hungarian:
alá-fölé rendeltség
— property of being subordinate
Hungarian:
alárendeltség
— property of being subordinate
Hungarian:
függőség
— property of being subordinate
Hungarian:
függés
— property of being subordinate
Russian:
подчине́ние
(podčinénije)
— property of being subordinate
Russian:
подчинённость
(podčinjónnostʹ)
— property of being subordinate
Ukrainian:
підпорядкува́ння
(pidporjadkuvánnja)
— property of being subordinate
Ukrainian:
підпорядко́ваність
(pidporjadkóvanistʹ)
— property of being subordinate
Belarusian:
субардына́цыя
(subardynácyja)
— quality of being properly obedient to a superior; this quality as a systemic principle of discipline
Finnish:
tottelevaisuus
— quality of being properly obedient to a superior; this quality as a systemic principle of discipline
Hungarian:
engedelmesség
— quality of being properly obedient to a superior; this quality as a systemic principle of discipline
Hungarian:
fegyelem
— quality of being properly obedient to a superior; this quality as a systemic principle of discipline
Polish:
subordynacja
— quality of being properly obedient to a superior; this quality as a systemic principle of discipline
Russian:
субордина́ция
(subordinácija)
— quality of being properly obedient to a superior; this quality as a systemic principle of discipline
Ukrainian:
субордина́ція
(subordynácija)
— quality of being properly obedient to a superior; this quality as a systemic principle of discipline
