The difference between Dependent and Subordinate

When used as nouns, dependent means one who relies on another for support, whereas subordinate means one who is subordinate.

When used as adjectives, dependent means relying upon, whereas subordinate means placed in a lower class, rank, or position.

Subordinate is also verb with the meaning: to make subservient.

check bellow for the other definitions of Dependent and Subordinate

  1. Dependent as an adjective:

    Relying upon; depending upon.

    Examples:

    "At that point I was dependent on financial aid for my tuition."

  2. Dependent as an adjective (statistics):

    Having a probability that is affected by the outcome of a separate event.

  3. Dependent as an adjective:

    Used in questions, negative sentences and after certain particles and prepositions.

  4. Dependent as an adjective (medicine):

    Affecting the lower part of the body, such as the legs while standing up, or the back while supine.

  5. Dependent as an adjective:

    Hanging down.

    Examples:

    "a dependent bough or leaf"

  1. Dependent as a noun (US):

    One who relies on another for support

    Examples:

    "With two children and an ailing mother, she had three dependents in all."

  2. Dependent as a noun (grammar):

    An element in phrase or clause structure that is not the head. Includes complements, modifiers and determiners.

  3. Dependent as a noun (grammar):

    The aorist subjunctive or subjunctive perfective: a form of a verb not used independently but preceded by a particle to form the negative or a tense form. Found in Greek and in the Gaelic languages.

  1. Subordinate as an adjective:

    Placed in a lower class, rank, or position.

  2. Subordinate as an adjective:

    Submissive or inferior to, or controlled by, authority.

  3. Subordinate as an adjective (grammar, of a clause, not comparable):

    dependent on and either modifying or complementing the main clause

    Examples:

    "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”."

  4. Subordinate as an adjective:

    Descending in a regular series.

  1. Subordinate as a noun (countable):

    One who is subordinate.

  1. Subordinate as a verb (transitive):

    To make subservient.

  2. Subordinate as a verb (transitive):

    To treat as of less value or importance.

  3. Subordinate as a verb (transitive, finance):

    To make of lower priority in order of payment in bankruptcy.

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