coordinate

coordinate — adjective

1. having the same level of importance, authority, or status as something else with

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

having the same level of importance, authority, or status as something else within a system or organisation.

Example

In the new structure, the marketing and sales directors hold coordinate positions.

The two committees have coordinate authority, so neither one can overrule the other.

coordinate + noun phrase for equal-status roles

Common collocations
  • coordinate authority
  • coordinate position
  • coordinate manager
  • coordinate relationship
Synonyms
  • coequal

    emphasises exact equality in rank or degree; more formal and less common

  • equal

    broader and more frequent in everyday use; not restricted to systems or hierarchies

Antonyms
  • subordinate

    implies a lower rank or position in a hierarchy

Usage Note

Primarily used in formal or technical contexts such as business structures, government, or academic hierarchies. In everyday conversation, 'equal' or 'on the same level' is more common.

2. connected to another part of a sentence by a coordinating conjunction such as 'a

2.adjectiveC1
Definition

connected to another part of a sentence by a coordinating conjunction such as 'and' or 'but', with each part carrying equal grammatical weight.

Example

In the sentence 'She laughed and he cried', the verbs 'laughed' and 'cried' are coordinate.

coordinate verbs joined by 'and'

Coordinate adjectives both modify the same noun, as in 'a bright, sunny day'.

Common collocations
  • coordinate clause
  • coordinate adjective
  • coordinate verb
  • coordinate conjunction
Synonyms
  • coordinating

    more common in everyday grammar teaching; e.g. 'coordinating conjunction'

Antonyms
  • subordinate

    describes a clause that depends on the main clause and cannot stand alone

Usage Note

Almost exclusively used in grammar textbooks and linguistics. In everyday descriptions of sentence structure, 'coordinating' is more common — for example, 'coordinating conjunction' rather than 'coordinate conjunction'.

coordinate — noun

coordinate — verb

Word family

  • coordination
    nounB2
  • coordinator
    nounB2
  • coordinated
    adjectiveB2
  • coordinating
    adjectiveB2
  • uncoordinated
    adjectiveC1
  • coordinative
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Coordinate, organise, arrange, and orchestrate all involve bringing order to something, but they highlight different aspects. Coordinate stresses getting different parts or people to work in harmony — the focus is on alignment between components. Organise is broader, covering the whole process of planning and structuring from start to finish. Arrange focuses on putting elements into a desired order or sequence. Orchestrate is more figurative and suggests directing something with skill and subtle control, much like a conductor leading an orchestra. For example, you coordinate the delivery of supplies from multiple sources, but you organise the event itself. You might arrange the seating chart, or orchestrate a secret negotiation. None of these words are perfect synonyms — choose the one that matches what you want to emphasise.

organise ↗arrange ↗orchestrate

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in coordination with
  • in close coordination

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Coordinate entered English in the mid-17th century from the Latin 'coordinatus', meaning 'arranged together'. It is formed from 'co-' (together) and 'ordinare' (to arrange, from 'ordo' meaning order). The mathematical sense — a set of numbers identifying a position on a graph or map — developed in the 19th century as geometry and navigation advanced.