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

Other Word Forms

• subsidiarily adverb
• subsidiariness noun
• nonsubsidiary adjective
• unsubsidiary 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

Its Melbourne, Fla.-based Eve Air Mobility subsidiary is developing an electric aircraft for urban transportation set to start operating commercially in 2027.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

China imposed sanctions on five American subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean on Tuesday, accusing them of supporting a US government investigation into the shipping industry, as tit-for-tat port fees took effect.

Read more on Barron's

Bitcoin’s price fell approximately 3.5% over 24 hours, trading around $110,000, after China sanctioned U.S. subsidiaries and initiated a trade probe.

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Hitting stock futures Tuesday, China has sanctioned five U.S. subsidiaries of Korea’s Hanwha Ocean — shares fell 8% in local trading — in retaliation for a U.S. probe into the strength of that country’s shipping industry.

Read more on MarketWatch

China has introduced a new dimension to the wide-ranging dispute by imposing sanctions on five U.S. subsidiaries of South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean shipbuilding company.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• ancillary 
• supplementary