subsidize

verb

sub·​si·​dize ˈsəb-sə-ˌdīz How to pronounce subsidize (audio)
-zə-
subsidized; subsidizing

transitive verb

: to furnish with a subsidy: such as
a
: to purchase the assistance of by payment of a subsidy
b
: to aid or promote (someone or something, such as a private enterprise) with public money
subsidize soybean farmers
subsidize public transportation
subsidization noun
subsidizer noun

Examples of subsidize in a Sentence

The state subsidizes housing for low-income families. She feels that private businesses should not be subsidized by taxpayers. The company subsidizes health insurance for its employees.
Recent Examples on the Web Consumers end up footing the bill, either through higher electricity rates if a utility pays for the undergrounding, or with taxpayer money if the government subsidizes it. Matt Simon, WIRED, 1 Sep. 2023 The theater, which is on the flagship campus of the University of Tennessee, is less dependent than some on ticket revenue, because, like a number of other regional nonprofits, it is affiliated with a university that subsidizes its operations. Michael Paulson, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2023 At the time, according to Barry, private insurers were unable to price policies that properly reflected risk, so the federal government stepped in to subsidize them. Eva Rothenberg, CNN, 21 Aug. 2023 City Council members approved the development, which calls for providing residents with bicycle racks, a self-repair bike station and subsidized monthly bus passes for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Aug. 2023 Throughout his criminal case, several longtime donors and allies gave money to two defense funds to subsidize his legal bills. Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2023 Feinberg uncovered what the Justice Department ultimately declared was a civil fraud scheme under which Booz Allen allegedly was overcharging U.S. taxpayers to subsidize its money-losing private consulting contracts, including with foreign governments such as Saudi Arabia. Ken Dilanian, NBC News, 28 Aug. 2023 The vaccine is not subsidized in Egypt, leaving it as a luxury only the wealthy can afford. Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 25 Aug. 2023 The climate will only become more volatile if humans keep pouring greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, and continuing to subsidize fossil fuels raises that risk. Bloomberg, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subsidize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1755, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subsidize was in 1755

Dictionary Entries Near subsidize

Cite this Entry

“Subsidize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subsidize. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

subsidize

verb
sub·​si·​dize ˈsəb-sə-ˌdīz How to pronounce subsidize (audio)
-zə-
subsidized; subsidizing
: to aid or furnish with a subsidy
subsidization noun
subsidizer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on subsidize

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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