English Reference
Verb

subsidize

v.
C1 Advanced US /ˈsəbsɪˌdaɪz/ sub·si·dize UK spelling subsidise, subsidizes, subsidizing Finance

v.to provide extra money from a government or a company to help a business or service stay cheap for people.

v.to provide financial assistance to a business or service to reduce its cost to consumers or to support its operation. Often used in the context of public policy or corporate partnerships.


SIMPLE

The government subsidizes public transport to keep fares low.

CONTEXTUAL

The local council subsidizes the community garden to ensure that fresh produce remains affordable for all residents.

COMPLEX

By subsidizing the initial costs of renewable energy infrastructure, the state encourages private investment in solar and wind projects that might otherwise be too risky for individual developers.

The college has also helped subsidise trips abroad, including trips to New York City and Brussels.

The Guardian· 13 Aug 2026

Luckily, he’s subsidised by his longsuffering wife, Matilde.

The Guardian· 11 Aug 2026

From subsidy + -ize.

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

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated