subservient
adjective/səbˈsɜːviənt/
/səbˈsɜːrviənt/
- subservient (to somebody/something) (disapproving) too willing to obey other people
- The press was accused of being subservient to the government.
- Women were expected to take subservient roles.
- subservient (to something) (formal) less important than something else
- The needs of individuals were subservient to those of the group as a whole.
- Every consideration was subservient to the overriding need to cut costs.
Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Latin subservient- ‘subjecting to, complying with’, from the verb subservire (see sub-, serve).
Check pronunciation:
subservient