subsidy

[ suhb-si-dee ]
/ ˈsʌb sɪ di /

noun, plural sub·si·dies.

a direct pecuniary aid furnished by a government to a private industrial undertaking, a charity organization, or the like.
a sum paid, often in accordance with a treaty, by one government to another to secure some service in return.
a grant or contribution of money.
money formerly granted by the English Parliament to the crown for special needs.

Origin of subsidy

1325–75; Middle English subsidie < Anglo-French < Latin subsidium auxiliary force, reserve, help, equivalent to sub- sub- + sid-, combining form of sedēre to sit1 + -ium -ium

SYNONYMS FOR subsidy

1 Subsidy, subvention are both grants of money, especially governmental, to aid private undertakings. A subsidy is usually given to promote commercial enterprise: a subsidy to manufacturers during a war. A subvention is usually a grant to stimulate enterprises connected with science and the arts: a subvention to a research chemist by a major company.

OTHER WORDS FROM subsidy

an·ti·sub·si·dy, noun, plural an·ti·sub·si·dies. non·sub·si·dy, noun, plural non·sub·si·dies.

Example sentences from the Web for subsidies

British Dictionary definitions for subsidies

subsidy
/ (ˈsʌbsɪdɪ) /

noun plural -dies

a financial aid supplied by a government, as to industry, for reasons of public welfare, the balance of payments, etc
English history a financial grant made originally for special purposes by Parliament to the Crown
any monetary contribution, grant, or aid

Word Origin for subsidy

C14: from Anglo-Norman subsidie, from Latin subsidium assistance, from subsidēre to remain, from sub- down + sedēre to sit

Cultural definitions for subsidies

subsidy

A grant made by a government to some individual or business in order to maintain an acceptable standard of living or to stimulate economic growth.