subsidiary

[ suhb-sid-ee-er-ee ]

adjective

1. serving to assist or supplement; auxiliary; supplementary.
2. subordinate or secondary:

   subsidiary issues.

3. of or relating to a subsidiary.

noun

, plural sub·sid·i·ar·ies.

1. a subsidiary thing or person.
2. subsidiary company.
3. Music. a subordinate theme or subject.

subsidiary

/ səbˈsɪdɪərɪ /

adjective

1. serving to aid or supplement; auxiliary
2. of lesser importance; subordinate in function

noun

1. a person who or thing that is subsidiary
2. short for subsidiary company

Derived Forms

• subˈsidiarily, adverb
• subˈsidiariness, noun

Other Words From

• sub·sid·i·ar·i·ly [s, uh, b-sid-ee-, air, -, uh, -lee, -, sid, -ee-er-], adverb
• sub·sidi·ari·ness noun
• nonsub·sidi·ary adjective noun plural nonsubsidiaries
• unsub·sidi·ary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of subsidiary¹

1535–45; < Latin subsidiārius, equivalent to subsidi ( um ) ( subsidy ) + -ārius -ary

Word History and Origins

Origin of subsidiary¹

C16: from Latin subsidiārius supporting, from subsidium subsidy

Example Sentences

A legacy brand like Air India, with strong global recognition and 'India' imprinted in its identity, wouldn’t have allowed a smaller, more premium subsidiary to overshadow its revival process.

From BBC

By any measure, the lawbreaking by the U.S. subsidiary of Canada’s Toronto-Dominion Bank was spectacular.

From Los Angeles Times

In addition to the financial penalties, which are the largest ever imposed on a U.S. bank in a money-laundering case, the U.S. subsidiary is forbidden for now to grow beyond the $434 billion in assets it held as of Sept. 30 and is restricted from opening more branches or offering new services without government oversight.

From Los Angeles Times

Other Boeing space businesses in the region expected to survive any restructuring include Spectrolab, a Sylmar subsidiary that makes solar cells for satellites and other space applications.

From Los Angeles Times

Fairshake has also set up two subsidiary PACs that support politicians of each political party.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ancillary
• supplementary