subservient

American  

[suhb-sur-vee-uhnt] / səbˈsɜr vi ənt /

adjective

1. serving or acting in a subordinate capacity; subordinate.

2. excessively submissive; servile; obsequious.

   subservient persons;

   subservient conduct.

3. useful in promoting a purpose or end.

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subservient British  

/ səbˈsɜːvɪənt /

adjective

1. obsequious in behaviour or attitude

2. serving as a means to an end

3. a less common word for subordinate

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Other Word Forms

• subservience noun
• subserviency noun
• subserviently adverb
• unsubservient adjective
• unsubserviently adverb

Etymology

Origin of subservient

First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin subservient- (stem of subserviēns, present participle of subservīre “to serve as a subordinate”; subserve ), equivalent to sub- prefix meaning “under, below, beneath, etc.” + servi-, stem of servīre “to serve” + -ent noun and adjective suffix; sub-, serve, -ent

Example Sentences

"Like Musharraf, he has a subservient prime minister and the authority to reshape the army's structure," he said.

From Barron's

When Harris acted the way that vice presidents normally do — subservient, self-effacing, careful never to poach the spotlight from the chief executive — it was seen as a failing.

From Los Angeles Times

And, while before they were totally in control, the managers or head coaches of today are often subservient to the people running these departments, and their decisions.

From BBC

Marks resigned from the FDA in March, saying Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, “wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies.”

From Barron's

Political leaders who have made their central banks subservient to their own policies have almost invariably learned the consequences the hard way, as economists across the economic spectrum observe.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• deferential
• submissive