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Minority vs Subordinate - What's the difference?

minority | subordinate |

As nouns the difference between minority and subordinate

is that minority is the state of being a minor; youth, the period of a person's life prior to reaching adulthood while subordinate is (one who is subordinate) One who is subordinate.

As an adjective subordinate is

placed in a lower class, rank, or position.

As a verb subordinate is

to make subservient.

minority

English

Noun

(minorities)
  • The state of being a minor; youth, the period of a person's life prior to reaching adulthood.
  • * 2011 , (Norman Davies), Vanished Kingdoms , Penguin 2012, p. 117:
  • She also played a key role as dowager-regent during the minority of her son.
  • Any subgroup that does not form a numerical majority.
  • Most people agreed, but a sizable minority were upset by the decision.
  • Empowered by or representing a minority (usually a plurality) of votes cast, legislative seats, etc., rather than an outright majority thereof.
  • (US) A member of an ethnic minority.
  • The company claims it has hired several minorities since the complaint was lodged.

    Synonyms

    * (youth) childhood

    Antonyms

    * (subgroup) majority * (youth) adulthood

    Derived terms

    * majority-minority * minority government * minority group * minority leader * minority report * minority rule

    subordinate

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Placed in a lower class, rank, or position.
  • * Woodward
  • The several kinds and subordinate species of each are easily distinguished.
  • Submissive or inferior to, or controlled by, authority.
  • * South
  • It was subordinate , not enslaved, to the understanding.
  • (grammar, of a clause, not comparable) dependent on and either modifying or complementing the main clause
  • In the sentence, “The barbecue finished before John arrived”, the subordinate clause “before John arrived” specifies the time of the main clause, “The barbecue finished”.

    Synonyms

    * lesser * (sense) dependent

    Antonyms

    * superior, superordinate * (Submissive to or controlled by authority) insubordinate * (sense) independent, main

    See also

    * inferior

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (senseid)(countable) One who is subordinate.
  • Synonyms

    * (one who is subordinate) inferior, junior, report, underling, understrapper

    Antonyms

    * (one who is subordinate) boss, commander, leader, manager, superior, supervisor

    Verb

    (subordinat)
  • To make subservient.
  • To treat as of less value or importance.
  • (finance) To make of lower priority in order of payment in bankruptcy.
  • Synonyms

    * (treat as of less value or importance) belittle, denigrate