Subaltern is an adjective that means of a lower status.
Our word of the day comes from the prefix S-U-B for ‘below’ and the Latin word alternus (ALL ter noose) which means ‘every other.’ Initially used as a rank in the British army, subaltern soon came to be used more broadly in reference to anyone below someone else’s status. Here’s an example:
My boss at the restaurant wasn’t the easiest to get along with. When dealing with the lowly wait staff, he seemed to act as if he was working with subaltern people.
