substitute

[ suhb-sti-toot, -tyoot ]

noun

1. a person or thing acting or serving in place of another.

   Synonyms: equivalent, replacement, alternative

2. (formerly) a person who, for payment, served in an army or navy in the place of a conscript.
3. Grammar. a word that functions as a replacement for any member of a class of words or constructions, as do in He doesn't know but I do.

verb (used with object)

, sub·sti·tut·ed, sub·sti·tut·ing.

1. to put (a person or thing) in the place of another.
2. to take the place of; replace.
3. Chemistry. to replace (one or more elements or groups in a compound) by other elements or groups.

verb (used without object)

, sub·sti·tut·ed, sub·sti·tut·ing.

1. to act as a substitute.

adjective

1. of or relating to a substitute or substitutes.
2. composed of substitutes.

substitute

/ ˈsʌbstɪˌtjuːt /

verb

1. often foll by for to serve or cause to serve in place of another person or thing
2. chem to replace (an atom or group in a molecule) with (another atom or group)
3. logic maths to replace (one expression) by (another) in the context of a third, as replacing x + y for x in 3 x = k gives 3 x + 3 y = k

noun

1. 1. a person or thing that serves in place of another, such as a player in a game who takes the place of an injured colleague
   2. ( as modifier ) Often shortened tosub

      a substitute goalkeeper

2. grammar another name for pro-form
3. another name for supply teacher
4. nautical another word for repeater
5. (formerly) a person paid to replace another due for military service

Usage

Substitute is sometimes wrongly used where replace is meant: he replaced (not substituted ) the worn tyre with a new one

Derived Forms

• ˌsubstiˌtutaˈbility, noun
• ˌsubstiˈtutable, adjective

Other Words From

• substi·tuta·ble adjective
• substi·tuta·bili·ty noun
• substi·tuter noun
• substi·tuting·ly adverb
• substi·tution noun
• substi·tution·al sub·sti·tu·tion·ar·y [suhb-sti-, too, -sh, uh, -ner-ee, -, tyoo, -], adjective
• substi·tution·al·ly adverb
• inter·substi·tuta·bili·ty noun
• inter·substi·tuta·ble adjective
• inter·substi·tution noun
• non·substi·tuted adjective
• nonsub·sti·tution noun
• nonsub·sti·tution·al adjective
• nonsub·sti·tution·al·ly adverb
• nonsub·sti·tution·ary adjective
• pre·substi·tute verb (used with object) presubstituted presubstituting
• presub·sti·tution noun
• prosub·sti·tution adjective
• un·substi·tuted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of substitute¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin substitūtus “replaced,” past participle of substituere “to put in place of,” from sub- sub- + -stituere, combining form of statuere “to set up, erect” ( substituent )

Word History and Origins

Origin of substitute¹

C16: from Latin substituere, from sub- in place of + statuere to set up

Example Sentences

From 1961 to 1965, he filled in as Elvin Jones’ substitute in the John Coltrane Quartet.

From Los Angeles Times

Vancouver Whitecaps' Armstrong, 32, last featured for the Scots as a substitute in their final match at Euro 2024, the 1-0 defeat by Hungary.

From BBC

“We take great offence when someone says that we're a coffee substitute,” says Andy Kleitsch, the chief executive of Seattle based start-up Atomo, from whose pure, beanless ground product my espresso has been made.

From BBC

But swapping one chemical for an unlisted substitute has sometimes resulted in its own consequences.

From Los Angeles Times

While City’s midfield went absent without leave in the second half, the veteran Kyle Walker looked every one of his 34 years as he was given a torrid time by Kaoru Mitoma, then substitute Joao Pedro.

From BBC

Related Words

• replace
• supplant
• swap