English Reference
noun

subscription

n.
US /səbsˈkɹɪpʃən/ UK /sʌbskɹˈɪpʃən/ sub·scrip·tion UK spelling subscription's, subscription's

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    an agreement where you pay a regular amount of money to use a service or receive a product.

    a commercial arrangement involving periodic payment for continued access to a product or service.

    Simple

    I decided to cancel my gym subscription because I never had time to go.

    In context

    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'.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    the act of giving or promising money to a group or a charity.

    the act of contributing or pledging a sum of money to a common fund or cause.

    Simple

    The new library was built entirely through public subscription.

    In context

    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.

  3. 03 C2 Proficiency FormalTechnical Law

    the act of signing your name to show you agree with something.

    the formal acceptance of a document or belief, often signified by a signature.

    Simple

    The contract requires the subscription of two witnesses to be valid.

    In context

    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.

Usage subscription traps

After the PM announced a crackdown on subscription traps, readers share how they got into and out of unwanted plans.

BBC News· 14 Aug 2026

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.

BBC News· 11 Aug 2026

From Latin subscriptiō; by surface analysis, sub- + script + -ion.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin subscriptiō
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated