Origin of substitute

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin substitūtus (past participle of substituere to put in place of), equivalent to sub- sub- + -stitū-, combining form of statū-, past participle stem of statuere (see substituent) + -tus past participle suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM substitute

Example sentences from the Web for substitution

British Dictionary definitions for substitution (1 of 2)

substitution
/ (ˌsʌbstɪˈtjuːʃən) /

noun

the act of substituting or state of being substituted
something or someone substituted
maths the replacement of a term of an equation by another that is known to have the same value in order to simplify the equation
maths logic
  1. the uniform replacement of one expression by another
  2. substitution instance an expression so derived from another

British Dictionary definitions for substitution (2 of 2)

substitute
/ (ˈsʌbstɪˌtjuːt) /

verb

noun

Derived forms of substitute

substitutable, adjective substitutability, noun

Word Origin for substitute

C16: from Latin substituere, from sub- in place of + statuere to set up

usage for substitute

Substitute is sometimes wrongly used where replace is meant: he replaced (not substituted) the worn tyre with a new one

Medical definitions for substitution

substitution
[ sŭb′stĭ-tōōshən ]

n.

The replacement of an atom or group of atoms in a compound by another atom or group of atoms.
An unconscious defense mechanism by which the unacceptable or unattainable is replaced by something more acceptable or attainable.