(Askeri) A subaltern is a military term for a junior officer. Literally meaning "subordinate", subaltern is used to describe commissioned officers below the rank of captain and generally comprises the various grades of lieutenant. In the British Army the senior subaltern rank was captain-lieutenant, obsolete since the 18th century
(Postcolonialism) Subaltern is a term that commonly refers to persons who are socially, politically, and geographically outside of the hegemonic power structure