SUBORDINATION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does subordination mean? 

• SUBORDINATION (noun)
  The noun SUBORDINATION has 5 senses:

1. the state of being subordinate to something

2. the semantic relation of being subordinate or belonging to a lower rank or class

3. the grammatical relation of a modifying word or phrase to its head

4. the quality of obedient submissiveness

5. the act of mastering or subordinating someone

  Familiarity information: SUBORDINATION used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SUBORDINATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The state of being subordinate to something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("subordination" is a kind of...):

dependance; dependence; dependency (the state of relying on or being controlled by someone or something else)

Derivation:

subordinate (rank or order as less important or consider of less value)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The semantic relation of being subordinate or belonging to a lower rank or class

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Synonyms:

hyponymy; subordination

Hypernyms ("subordination" is a kind of...):

semantic relation (a relation between meanings)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The grammatical relation of a modifying word or phrase to its head

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Hypernyms ("subordination" is a kind of...):

grammatical relation (a linguistic relation established by grammar)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The quality of obedient submissiveness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("subordination" is a kind of...):

submissiveness (the trait of being willing to yield to the will of another person or a superior force etc.)

Antonym:

insubordination (defiance of authority)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The act of mastering or subordinating someone

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

mastery; subordination

Hypernyms ("subordination" is a kind of...):

domination (social control by dominating)

Derivation:

subordinate (make subordinate, dependent, or subservient)

 Context examples 

Though she did not feel the first intelligence as she might have done the day before, or an hour before, its interest soon increased; and before their first conversation was over, she had talked herself into all the sensations of curiosity, wonder and regret, pain and pleasure, as to this fortunate Miss Hawkins, which could conduce to place the Martins under proper subordination in her fancy.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)