subsidy

noun sub·si·dy \ ˈsəb-sə-dē , -zə- \

|Updated on: 13 Jun 2018

Examples: subsidy in a Sentence

Definition of subsidy

plural subsidies

: a grant or gift of money: such as

a : a sum of money formerly granted by the British Parliament to the crown and raised by special taxation

b : money granted by one state to another

c : a grant by a government to a private person or company to assist an enterprise deemed advantageous to the public

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Examples of subsidy in a Sentence

The city is increasing subsidies for public transit.
government subsidies for farmers in case of crop failure

Recent Examples of subsidy from the Web

The Senate’s farm bill also would lower the adjusted gross income threshold at which farmers are no longer eligible for farm subsidies to $700,000 from $900,000.

— alan bjerga, Bloomberg.com, "Trump’s Food Stamp Work Rules Aren’t in Senate Farm Bill," 8 June 2018
However, the rate hikes will hit the millions of Americans who earn too much for subsidies or who buy individual coverage outside of the Obamacare exchanges.

— tami luhby, CNN, "Obamacare premiums set to soar in 2019," 7 June 2018
The measure would provide the city with enough funds to help more than 2,400 children on a wait list for subsidies.

— hamed aleaziz, San Francisco Chronicle, "SF Prop. C: child-care tax measure still not decided," 6 June 2018
Craft and Murray have both implored the administration for subsidies to keep their coal plants open.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Is Preparing to Prop Up Unprofitable Coal Plants With ‘Emergency’ Subsidies," 1 June 2018
There is a waiting list for the subsidies because of high demand.

— linda valdez, The Republic | azcentral.com, "Valdez: DCS removes the most kids from high poverty ZIP codes. That's no coincidence," 27 May 2018
Any resultant food price spikes would hurt the poorest the most, and that could drive a long-term need for food subsidies.

— rabiya jaffery, The Christian Science Monitor, "UAE tries vertical farming to produce food with little water," 10 May 2018
Most Marylanders who purchase insurance on the exchange qualify for those subsidies.

— andrea k. mcdaniels, baltimoresun.com, "CareFirst and Kaiser ask again for large rate increases on insurance sold on state exchange," 7 May 2018
Because that classification helped put Extremadura in line for EU subsidies worth €3bn ($3.6bn) between 2014 and 2020.

— The Economist, "The EU’s budget is being dragged into the 21st century," 5 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'subsidy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of subsidy

Middle English subsidie, from Anglo-French, from Latin subsidium reserve troops, support, assistance, from sub- near + sedēre to sit — more at sub-, sit

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

subsidy Synonyms

Synonyms

allocation, allotment, annuity, appropriation, entitlement, grant;

foreign aid, relief, state aid;

advance, allowance, benefit, bequest, endowment, fund, legacy, stipend, trust, trust fund;

Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

SUBSIDY Defined for English Language Learners

subsidy

noun

Definition of subsidy for English Language Learners

: money that is paid usually by a government to keep the price of a product or service low or to help a business or organization to continue to function