1. the fourth tone of a major or minor scale
Usage: music theory

1. relating to or being the subdominant
Usage: music theory
2. less dominant; secondary in dominance
Usage: ecology; biology

Examples

• The subdominant chord creates a sense of departure from the tonic.
• In C major, the subdominant is F.
• The composer emphasized the subdominant harmony in the bridge section.
• The subdominant species occupied a smaller ecological niche.
• Pine trees were subdominant in this forest ecosystem.
• The subdominant allele was expressed less frequently in the population.