subsidiary
Subsidiary (noun) means a company that is owned or controlled by a larger parent company. Example: “The airline is a subsidiary of a major travel conglomerate.”
How to Use Subsidiary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often a business owned by a bigger company; more generally, anything secondary or supporting.
Word Forms
more subsidiary comparative, subsidiaries plural, most subsidiary superlative
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The airline is a _____ of a major travel conglomerate.
Etymology
From Latin subsidiarius, "belonging to a reserve," related to subsidy.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for subsidiary
See all rhymes for subsidiary →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “subsidiary” mean?
The word “subsidiary” means a company that is owned or controlled by a larger parent company. In plain terms, most often a business owned by a bigger company; more generally, anything secondary or supporting.
How do you pronounce “subsidiary”?
“Subsidiary” is pronounced suhb-SIH-dee-uhr-ee (/sʌbˈsɪ.di.əɹ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “subsidiary” in a sentence?
Here is “subsidiary” used in a sentence: “The airline is a subsidiary of a major travel conglomerate.”
What part of speech is “subsidiary”?
Depending on how it is used, “subsidiary” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “subsidiary” come from?
The word “subsidiary” comes from Latin. From Latin subsidiarius, "belonging to a reserve," related to subsidy.
Is “subsidiary” a common word?
“Subsidiary” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “subsidiary” have?
“Subsidiary” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a company that is owned or controlled by a larger parent company.
What is the difference between a subsidiary and a parent company?
A parent company owns or controls another company, and the company it owns is called the subsidiary. Control is usually established by holding a majority of the subsidiary's shares.
What is the difference between a subsidiary and an affiliate?
A subsidiary is controlled by a parent company, typically through majority ownership. An affiliate is a company in which the parent holds a smaller stake and does not have controlling ownership.
What is the difference between a subsidiary and a division?
A subsidiary is a separate legal company owned by a parent company, while a division is simply a part of one company and not a separate legal entity. Subsidiaries have their own legal identity; divisions do not.
What is the difference between subsidiary and secondary?
Both words can describe something less important than the main thing. 'Secondary' just means second in rank or importance, while 'subsidiary' specifically implies a supporting or supplementary role, as in 'a subsidiary issue.'