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 subsidiaries.

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 Word Forms

• 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

Chamber of Commerce and an Uber subsidiary successfully challenged the law, arguing that bargaining by independent-contractor drivers amounted to illegal concerted action and price fixing.

From Los Angeles Times

It is the head of American corporations who opened subsidiaries in Ireland, where there is a low tax rate, and put manufacturing in Vietnam or Cambodia.

From BBC

More than five years on, one of the JaeVee subsidiary companies developing the sites is in administration and the other is in receivership.

From BBC

Consumer Watchdog has called on State Farm Mutual to instead shore up the subsidiary’s capital position.

From Los Angeles Times

The company is exploring changing the for-profit subsidiary to a public benefit corporation.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ancillary
• supplementary