Subordination

Subordination refers to the relationship between elements where one is of lower rank or importance than another. In language, it often describes how certain clauses depend on others to form a complete thought; for example, in the sentence "Because it was raining, we stayed indoors," the phrase "Because it was raining" is subordinate to the main idea of staying indoors. In a broader context, subordination can apply to social hierarchies or organizational structures, where individuals or groups have less power or authority compared to others, thus creating a clear rank or order among them.