subsidiary

[ suh b-sid-ee-er-ee ]
/ səbˈsɪd iˌɛr i /

adjective

serving to assist or supplement; auxiliary; supplementary.
subordinate or secondary: subsidiary issues.
of or relating to a subsidiary.

noun, plural sub·sid·i·ar·ies.

a subsidiary thing or person.
Music. a subordinate theme or subject.

Origin of subsidiary

1535–45; < Latin subsidiārius, equivalent to subsidi(um) (see subsidy) + -ārius -ary

OTHER WORDS FROM subsidiary

sub·sid·i·ar·i·ly [suh b-sid-ee-air-uh-lee, -sid-ee-er-] /səbˌsɪd iˈɛər ə li, -ˈsɪd iˌɛr-/, adverb sub·sid·i·ar·i·ness, noun non·sub·sid·i·ar·y, adjective, noun, plural non·sub·sid·i·ar·ies. un·sub·sid·i·ar·y, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for subsidiary

British Dictionary definitions for subsidiary

subsidiary
/ (səbˈsɪdɪərɪ) /

adjective

serving to aid or supplement; auxiliary
of lesser importance; subordinate in function

noun plural -aries

a person who or thing that is subsidiary
short for subsidiary company

Derived forms of subsidiary

subsidiarily, adverb subsidiariness, noun

Word Origin for subsidiary

C16: from Latin subsidiārius supporting, from subsidium subsidy