Synonyms

subsidize

American

[suhb-si-dahyz] / ˈsʌb sɪˌdaɪz /

especially British, subsidise

verb (used with object)

to furnish or aid with a subsidy.
to purchase the assistance of by the payment of a subsidy.
to secure the cooperation of by bribery; buy over.

subsidize British

/ ˈsʌbsɪˌdaɪz /

verb

to aid or support with a subsidy
to obtain the aid of by means of a subsidy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does subsidize mean? To subsidize is to grant a subsidy—a direct payment made by a government to a company or other organization as a form of assistance. The process of subsidizing is subsidization. Governments often subsidize particular industries, such as through granting farm subsidies. The word subsidy is most commonly used to refer to such payments. More generally, subsidy can refer to any grant or monetary contribution. More specifically, it can refer to a payment made by one government to another for a particular service, often according to a treaty. Less commonly, the word subsidize can mean to gain someone’s cooperation through bribery. Subsidize is sometimes spelled subsidise (especially in British English). Example: The government is subsidizing my company to help expedite the manufacturing of healthcare products.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of subsidize

First recorded in 1785–95; subsid(y) + -ize

Explanation

To subsidize something is to support it by providing it with money or other resources. Don't expect your parents to subsidize your addiction to solid-gold puppy figurines. We can break down the word subsidize to help us remember its meaning. The prefix sub- means "under, below" and sedēre means "to sit." (A submarine is a ship that goes under the sea.) So to subsidize is to underwrite something financially, providing the support that keeps it going. For example, our taxes are used by the government to subsidize many educational and social programs.

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Vocabulary lists containing subsidize

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Lyddie

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Over the weeks following the ticket price announcement, private sponsors helped subsidize the cost down to $98, which is still nearly a 660% increase from typical prices.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2026

“Clearly, the program is structured to subsidize savings for those who already have the capacity to save, rather than meaningfully closing the wealth gap,” observes Sheryl Rowling of Morningstar.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

Malaysia’s government spends 5 billion ringgit monthly to subsidize RON95 petrol, helping contain domestic inflation.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

So we’ll say, “Buy electric vehicles,” and we’ll subsidize it.

From Slate • Apr. 22, 2026

“I said I don’t—” “We can tell him the L & J Fund is intended to subsidize writers and actors if you want.”

From "The Pigman" by Paul Zindel

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023