Synonyms for subaltern

Most common

lowly · petty · secondary

All synonyms

Adjective

Antonyms

superaltern, commander

All antonyms of subaltern →

Definitions

1. adj. 1

   Of a lower rank or position; inferior or secondary; especially (military) ranking as a junior officer, below the rank of captain.

Example sentences

• petty Sami started getting into trouble for petty theft.
• subordinate All the other issues are subordinate to this one.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

5 letters

petty², lowly²

6 letters

junior²

8 letters

inferior⁴

9 letters

secondary⁴

11 letters

subordinate⁴

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (petty² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français

subalterne

Italiano

subalterno

Español

subalterno

Deutsch

subaltern