noun
Common
subsidiary
suhb-SIH-dee-uhr-ee
Subsidiary (noun) means a company that is owned or controlled by a larger parent company. Example: “The bank's subsidiary in Spain handles all the European customers.”
noun
1
A company that is owned or controlled by a larger parent company.
"The bank's subsidiary in Spain handles all the European customers."
"Our firm became a subsidiary after the larger company bought it."
"The airline is a subsidiary of a major travel conglomerate."
adj
1
Serving a supporting or secondary role.
"Cooking was only a subsidiary interest; his main hobby was painting."
"The subsidiary road links the village to the main highway."
"The report focuses on the main issue and treats the rest as subsidiary points."
How to use subsidiary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often a business owned by a bigger company; more generally, anything secondary or supporting.
Common pairings
wholly owned subsidiary
subsidiary company
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Word forms
- Plural
- subsidiaries
- Comparative
- more subsidiary
- Superlative
- most subsidiary
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bank's _____ in Spain handles all the European customers.
Etymology
From Latin subsidiarius, "belonging to a reserve," related to subsidy.
Synonyms
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Related words
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.'
