subsidize

verb

sub·​si·​dize ˈsəb-sə-ˌdīz 

-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

ˌsəb-sə-də-ˈzā-shən 

-zə-

noun

subsidizer noun

Synonyms of subsidize

• fund
• finance

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

Because the federal government more generously subsidizes enrollees under the ACA expansion, the traditional Medicaid population can be crowded out of access to timely, high-quality care. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2026

Barrera has long subsidized his school board pay — a stipend of about $20,000 a year plus health benefits — with outside union work. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

The call, issued at the Toronto Film Festival, comes as countries internationally have urged politicians to compel foreign streaming platforms to subsidize local media production as Netflix, Amazon and YouTube reshape the global film and TV markets. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026

The proposal is a significant departure from the original fund idea, which was created in the 1990s to help low-income parents remain active in the workforce by subsidizing childcare. — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1755, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subsidize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

Kids Definition

subsidize

verb

sub·​si·​dize ˈsəb-sə-ˌdīz 

-zə-

subsidized; subsidizing

: to aid or furnish with a subsidy

subsidization

ˌsəb-səd-ə-ˈzā-shən 

ˌsəb-zəd-

noun

subsidizer noun