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

“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

I wanted to take a path that would be the exact opposite of what the Christian patriarchy had conditioned me to be, which was very silent and subservient.

From Salon

But at the same time, her government was criticised for numerous allegedly corrupt business deals and for being too subservient to India.

From BBC

Related Words

• deferential
• submissive