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subscription

n.
US //səbsˈkɹɪpʃən// UK //sʌbskɹˈɪpʃən// sub·scrip·tion
  1. 1 regular payment for service (n.)
    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.

    Example

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

    Example

    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. 2 donating to a fund (n.)
    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.

    Example

    The new library was built entirely through public subscription.

    Example

    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.

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  1. 3 formal agreement or signature (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal Technical 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.

    Example

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

    Example

    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.

Origin

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

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