Word
subsidiary
Phoneticssub·sidiary
US/səbˈsɪdiˌɛɹi/
UK/sʌbsˈɪdjəɹi/
Definitions
01a branch company
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a company that is owned and controlled by another, larger company.
n. a company whose voting stock is more than 50% controlled by another company, known as the parent or holding company.
“The famous car brand is actually a subsidiary of a much larger German group.”
“The multinational corporation operates through several local subsidiaries to navigate the specific regulatory requirements of each individual market.”
Antonyms
02music/theatre
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Music Technical
n. a less important part of a piece of music or a story.
n. a subordinate theme or character that supports the primary subject matter.
“The composer introduces a light subsidiary theme halfway through the first movement.”
“The analysis focuses on how the subsidiary motifs provide a rhythmic counterpoint to the dominant melodic line throughout the concerto.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03secondary or extra
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. used to describe something that is less important than the main part, or something that provides extra help.
adj. functioning in a secondary, subordinate, or supplemental capacity to a primary entity or objective.
“The office has a main heater and a subsidiary one for very cold days.”
“The report argued that while the environmental benefits were subsidiary to the economic goals, they were nonetheless significant.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The July 10 incident occurred on a Boeing 737-800 operated by Malta Air, a Ryanair subsidiary, flying from Thessaloniki, Greece, to Memmingen, Germany.” “The flight was operated by the budget airline’s subsidiary Malta Air.” “The aircraft was operated by Ryanair's subsidiary Malta Air.” Etymology
From Middle French subsidiaire, from Latin subsidiarius (“belonging to a reserve”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/subsidiary