Word
subscription
Phoneticssub·scrip·tion, stress on the second syllable
US/səbsˈkɹɪpʃən/
UK/sʌbskɹˈɪpʃən/
Definitions
01regular payment for service
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. an agreement where you pay a regular amount of money to use a service or receive a product.
n. a commercial arrangement involving periodic payment for continued access to a product or service.
“I decided to cancel my gym subscription because I never had time to go.”
“The digital news outlet shifted its business model toward a monthly subscription to ensure a more stable revenue stream than advertising alone.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'to'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02donating to a fund
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the act of giving or promising money to a group or a charity.
n. the act of contributing or pledging a sum of money to a common fund or cause.
“The new library was built entirely through public subscription.”
“The monument was funded by public subscription, with thousands of local residents contributing small amounts to the memorial fund.”
Usage
Commonly used in the context of public works or charitable foundations.
Synonyms
03formal agreement or signature
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. the act of signing your name to show you agree with something.
n. the formal acceptance of a document or belief, often signified by a signature.
“The contract requires the subscription of two witnesses to be valid.”
“The legal validity of the deed was questioned due to the lack of proper subscription by the executive board members.”
Usage
Frequently appears in legal or historical religious contexts.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “subscription” in context.
Verb
01. cancel a subscription
“I decided to cancel my subscription because I rarely used the streaming service anymore.”
verb + noun
02. renew a subscription
“The magazine will automatically renew your subscription unless you opt out before the end of the month.”
verb + noun
03. take out a subscription
“She took out a subscription to the financial journal to stay updated on market trends.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. annual subscription
“The annual subscription offers a significant discount compared to paying month-by-month.”
adj + noun
05. tier-based subscription
“The software company introduced a tier-based subscription model to cater to different business sizes.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. subscription fee
“The monthly subscription fee is deducted automatically from your bank account.”
noun + noun
07. subscription service
“Many consumers are experiencing fatigue from managing too many different subscription services.”
noun + noun
Preposition
08. by subscription
“The specialized medical database is available only by subscription.”
prep + noun
09. subscription traps
Real-World Examples
“Emilie Vanpoperinghe, co-founder of Oddbox, a subscription company that sells surplus produce that supermarkets reject, said it is "purely a cosmetic defect" and the plants taste exactly the same.” “After the PM announced a crackdown on subscription traps, readers share how they got into and out of unwanted plans.” “Since taking office three weeks ago, Burnham has announced policies including the removal of VAT from domestic electricity bills and bringing forward an already planned end to "subscription traps".” “The cost of rent or a mortgage, household bills and subscriptions can't be shared.” Etymology
From Latin subscriptiō; by surface analysis, sub- + script + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/subscription