ENGLISH
REFERENCE

subsidies

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈsəbsədiz// UK //sˈʌbsɪdɪz// sub·si·dies

n. money that a government or organization pays to help keep the price of a product or service low. This help makes it easier for a business to stay open or for people to buy what they need.

n. financial assistance granted by a government or public body to an enterprise or industry to maintain the price of a commodity or service. Often used in plural to describe broad economic policies.


SIMPLE

The government provides subsidies to farmers to keep food prices low.

CONTEXTUAL

Without significant government subsidies, the local bus network would be unable to operate its late-night routes.

COMPLEX

Economists debate whether agricultural subsidies truly protect national food security or if they merely distort international trade by disadvantaging producers in developing nations.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly used in the plural form when discussing economic policy or industry-wide support.

Pitfall

The government gave a subsidy for the farmers.The government gave a subsidy to the farmers.While you can have a subsidy 'for' a purpose, when identifying the recipient, 'to' is the standard preposition.

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