Legal Definitions - subordinate

Subordinate (adjective) means being in a lower rank, class, or position. For example, a subordinate employee is someone who has a lower position in a company than their boss.

Subordinate (verb) means to place something in a lower rank, class, or position. For example, a company might subordinate its debt to a different class of claims, meaning that it gives priority to paying off other debts first.

Adjective: The manager's assistant is a subordinate employee who reports to the manager.

Verb: The company decided to subordinate its debt to a different class of claims, so it could pay off other debts first.

These examples illustrate how the term "subordinate" is used to describe something that is lower in rank or priority. In the first example, the assistant is subordinate to the manager because they have a lower position in the company hierarchy. In the second example, the company is subordinating its debt to other claims, meaning that it is giving it a lower priority for payment.