Primary
Primary adjective - Coming before all others in importance.
Usage example: the primary concern for many house hunters is the asking price
Subordinate
Subordinate adjective - Having not so great importance or rank as another.
Usage example: his contention is that environment plays a subordinate role to heredity in determining what we become
Both words in one sentence
- In his primary identity, he plays the role of an incompetent subordinate and manipulates those around him for the (apparent) benefit of his superiors in V.
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Consultant on Board: Omar Bradley (Patton's subordinate, then commander) was the primary consultant for the film.
Source: Film / Patton - He's the primary antagonist throughout the first third of The Winter King, but after his initial defeat, he plays nice for a while and then takes a subordinate role to Gorfyddyd.
Cite this Source
Subordinate and Primary. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/primary/subordinate
Primary & Subordinate. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/primary/subordinate>.
Subordinate or Primary. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/primary/subordinate.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "primary" and "subordinate" have occurred on timeline