An associate worker who functions at the direction of those exercising authority: The police commander told his subordinate to guard the door of the bank during the investigation of the robbery.

To grade, to rank, or to place something or someone in a less important position than others: In some educational systems; because of financial shortages, the emphasis is on science, math, or other academic subjects; so, some school officials feel compelled to subordinate art, music, sports, etc. as extra curricular activities.