subsidiary
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
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.
Simple“The famous car brand is actually a subsidiary of a much larger German group.”
In context“The multinational corporation operates through several local subsidiaries to navigate the specific regulatory requirements of each individual market.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“The composer introduces a light subsidiary theme halfway through the first movement.”
In context“The analysis focuses on how the subsidiary motifs provide a rhythmic counterpoint to the dominant melodic line throughout the concerto.”
SynonymssubthemeAntonymsmain theme - 03 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“The office has a main heater and a subsidiary one for very cold days.”
In context“The report argued that while the environmental benefits were subsidiary to the economic goals, they were nonetheless significant.”
“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.”
From Middle French subsidiaire, from Latin subsidiarius (“belonging to a reserve”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.