The difference between Inferior and Subordinate

When used as nouns, inferior means a person of lower stature to another, whereas subordinate means one who is subordinate.

When used as adjectives, inferior means of lower quality, 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 Inferior and Subordinate

  1. Inferior as an adjective:

    of lower quality

    Examples:

    "Anna had always felt inferior to her brother due to poor school grades."

  2. Inferior as an adjective:

    of lower rank

    Examples:

    "an inferior officer"

  3. Inferior as an adjective (typography):

    located below Printed in subscript.

    Examples:

    "an inferior figure or letter"

  4. Inferior as an adjective (botany):

    Situated below some other organ; said of a calyx when free from the ovary, and therefore below it, or of an ovary with an adherent and therefore inferior calyx.

  5. Inferior as an adjective (botany):

    On the side of a flower which is next to the bract; anterior.

  6. Inferior as an adjective (astronomy):

    Nearer to the Sun than the Earth is.

    Examples:

    "the inferior or interior planets; an inferior conjunction of Mercury or Venus"

  7. Inferior as an adjective (astronomy):

    Below the horizon.

    Examples:

    "the inferior part of a meridian"

  1. Inferior as a noun:

    a person of lower stature to another

    Examples:

    "As you are my inferior, I can tell you to do anything I want."

    "ant superior"

  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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