subsidy

What it means

1. countableuncountableFinancial support or assistance, such as a grant.

   Manufacturing firms are supported by government subsidies in some countries.

   2 more examples

   British journalists shun complete respectability, feeling a duty to be ready to savage the mighty, or rummage through their bins. Elsewhere in Europe, government contracts and subsidies ensure that press barons will only defy the mighty so far.

   2013 August 10, Lexington, “Keeping the mighty honest”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8848

   You don't have to be Einstein to work out that this level of government subsidy is unsustainable.

   2022 January 12, Sir Michael Holden, “Reform of the workforce or death by a thousand cuts?”, in RAIL, number 948, page 22

   Antonyms: tax

2. countabledateduncountableMoney granted by parliament to the British Crown.

In a sentence

Manufacturing firms are supported by government subsidies in some countries.

Where it comes from

1. Latinsubsidium
2. Old Frenchsubside
3. Anglo-Normansubsidee
4. Middle Englishsubsidy
5. Englishsubsidy

From Middle English subsidy, subsidie, from Anglo-Norman subsidee, subsidie, from Old French subside, from Latin subsidium (support, assistance), from subsido from sub- (“below”) + sīdō (“sit”).