subservient

[ suhb-sur-vee-uhnt ]

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.

subservient

/ səbˈsɜːvɪənt /

adjective

1. obsequious in behaviour or attitude
2. serving as a means to an end
3. a less common word for subordinate

Derived Forms

• subˈserviently, adverb
• subˈservience, noun

Other Words From

• sub·ser·vi·ence [s, uh, b-, sur, -vee-, uh, ns], sub·ser·vi·en·cy [s, uh, b-, sur, -vee-, uh, n-see], noun
• sub·ser·vi·ent·ly adverb
• un·sub·ser·vi·ent adjective
• un·sub·ser·vi·ent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of subservient¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of subservient¹

C17: from Latin subserviēns complying with, from subservīre to subserve

Example Sentences

Understand, after the sound and fury, what we’re really seeing here: Trump placing people in power who will be subservient to him, even more so than in 2016.

From Salon

“We cannot go with Russia and be subservient again.”

From Los Angeles Times

Thanks to a deferential Supreme Court, a subservient Republican Party that won a Senate majority and a determination to assemble a more pliant administration, there will be fewer checks on his power.

From Los Angeles Times

Here is a legend who spent her life subservient to her art, unable to conjure the miracles that defined her existence.

From Salon

"Given Donald Trump’s unhinged temperament and his blistering and often unfounded attacks on any who are not subservient to his views, I do sense a dangerous Stalin-like streak in the man," Collins told Salon, referring to Soviet Union dictator Joseph Stalin.

From Salon

Related Words

• deferential
• submissive