1. a member of the clergy ranking below a deacon in certain Christian churches
Usage: ecclesiastical

Examples

• The subdeacon assisted the priest during the liturgy.
• He was ordained as a subdeacon before becoming a deacon.
• The subdeacon read from the epistle during the service.
• In the Orthodox Church, a subdeacon has specific ceremonial duties.
• The young man served as a subdeacon for two years.
• The subdeacon helped prepare the altar for communion.