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Adjective: subaltern  su'bol-turn [N. Amer], sú-bul-t(u)n [Brit]
  1. Inferior in rank or status
    "a subaltern corporal";
    - junior-grade, lower-ranking, lowly, petty, secondary
Noun: subaltern  su'bol-turn [N. Amer], sú-bul-t(u)n [Brit]
  1. (military) a British commissioned army officer below the rank of captain
    "The subaltern led his platoon into the training exercise"

Derived forms: subalterns

See also: junior

Type of: commissioned military officer

Encyclopedia: Subaltern