Sub‐al″tern (?), a. [F. subalterne, LL. subalternus, fr. L. sub under + alter the one, the other of two. See Alter.] 1. Ranked or ranged below; subordinate; inferior; specifically (Mil.), ranking as a junior officer; being below the rank of captain; as, a subaltern officer.
2. (Logic) Asserting only a part of what is asserted in a related proposition.
Subaltern genus. (Logic) See under Genus.