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Gene93 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary

inferior and subordinate

Hello,
Can subordinate be used as a substitute for inferior in this sentence: "A corporal is inferior to a sergeant."? I realize that inferior has a very negative connotation, but this is not a self-made sentence, it copied it from Macmillan Dictionary. Don't they both imply that someone simply has a lower rank than someone else?

Thank you
  

Top answer

Gene93 Don't they both imply that someone simply has a lower rank than someone else? Yes, with the caveat you have already presented.

— Mister Micawber

  • Gene93 Don't they both imply that someone simply has a lower rank than someone else?
  • Yes, with the caveat you have already presented.
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7 Answers
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Gene93 Don't they both imply that someone simply has a lower rank than someone else?
Yes, with the caveat you have already presented.
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I wonder, Mr Micawber, if so many dictionaries say that "inferior" also means "lower, or of lower rank", why do people feel so deeply about it? I work as an electrician (level 3) and if someone said to me that I was inferior to my father, who's an expert, I wouldn't be offended. That's how it is, why should it upset me?

Thank you
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Gene93That's how it is, why should it upset me?
Because the word has the two meanings or shades of meanings, and native speakers notice those, both in speaking and listening:

1.lower in station, rank, degree, or grade
2. less important, valuable, or worthy
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I am afraid some of them only notice the second meaning and take offense. Emotion: smile But it also means lower in station/rank. Should we just i
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Gene93Should we just ignore this meaning of the word?
Of course not! What are you thinking?!
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Oh, I didn't mean to annoy you, sir. I am sorry.
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I'm not annoyed—I'm just shocked that you would think you could ignore the meaning of a word.
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