subdominant

noun

sub·​dom·​i·​nant ˌsəb-ˈdä-mə-nənt 

-ˈdäm-nənt

1

: the fourth tone of a major or minor scale

2

: something partly but incompletely dominant

especially : an ecologically important life form subordinate in influence to the dominants of a community

subdominant adjective

Examples of subdominant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Rio Grande turkeys invariably roost in mixed groups, usually a dominant gobbler, maybe a couple of subdominant gobblers and, almost always, a bevy of hens. —Shannon Tompkins, Houston Chronicle, 11 Apr. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

subdominant

noun

sub·​dom·​i·​nant ˌsəb-ˈdäm(-ə)-nənt 

ˈsəb-

1

: something dominant to a lesser or partial degree

2

: the fourth tone of a major or minor scale (as F in the scale of C)

subdominant adjective