The word that means of lesser rank is
coordinate
dominant
independent
subordinate

The word that means of lesser rank is called subordinate. Anyone that is rank lower or below another employee by seniority or position in the office is called a subordinate. In business ethics, a subordinate must respect and obey his/her boss or superior. He/she also takes orders and instructions from the boss in order to carry out a task as asked by the boss. The subordinates are those employees that serve as the hands of the company because they are the ones who worked so hard for the achievement of the company's goals and visions.