Is it OK to use "inferiors" instead of "subordinates" in this sentence?
He always confers with his subordinates before making decisions.My dictionary defines both "subordinate" and "inferior" as "someone who has a lower position or rank than you in an organization".

Question

Is it OK to use "inferiors" instead of "subordinates" in this sentence?
He always confers with his subordinates before making decisions.My dictionary defines both "subordinate" and "inferior" as "someone who has a lower position or rank than you in an organization".

Answer

Although "inferior" and "subordinate" may have the same synonymous meaning, the connotative meanings are quite different.

In English, "subordinate" does in fact refer to someone who is of lower rank (within a business structure) to yourself. For example, a manager and his/her subordinates.

However, "inferior" means someone of lesser quality or character. It's a demeaning term that refers to someone personally, rather than in the hierarchal structure of business or society. For example, you would say the quality of fabric is inferior when compared to another, but you wouldn't say it's subordinate (doesn't make sense).

Answer

Absolutely not.  Inferior means less or not worth as much.

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