subaltern Definition

subaltern
adj

1. Inferior; lower in status, rank, etc.
2. logic.
Said of a proposition: particular, especially in regard to a universal of the same quality.

noun

1a. Any army officer below the rank of captain;
1b. Someone of inferior status, rank, etc.
2. logic.
A subaltern proposition.

Etymology: 16c: from Latin subalternus, from sub- 2 + alter another.