subsidiarity
Britishnoun
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(in the Roman Catholic Church) a principle of social doctrine that all social bodies exist for the sake of the individual so that what individuals are able to do, society should not take over, and what small societies can do, larger societies should not take over
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(in political systems) the principle of devolving decisions to the lowest practical level
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Pope Leo’s treatment of subsidiarity may prove among the encyclical’s most important contributions.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
Oh, there has been no conversion to the principle of subsidiarity, that decisions ought to be made at the levels closest to daily life.
From Washington Post • Jan. 14, 2022
But he said history makes clear that Europe is a common home to many, and he called for Europe to “revitalize its vocation to solidarity and subsidiarity today.”
From Seattle Times • Nov. 11, 2021
Instead, he’s trying to reconcile the ongoing tension outlined in Catholic social teaching, between solidarity and subsidiarity, between what the state owes its people and what those people owe one another.
From Slate • Feb. 17, 2021
"We've lost the habit of looking for power and connection in the school board, the church and local government," says Levin, who feels the way forward is through subsidiarity.
From US News • Sep. 9, 2016
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
