subsidy
gb/sˈʌbsɪdi/ us/sˈʌbsɪdi/
B2
English
~ 4000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
Government or organizational financial aid
Money given by the government or another group to help pay for something and make it cheaper.
Usage pattern:
[organization/government] gives a subsidy to [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'subsidy' with 'salary' or 'scholarship'. A subsidy is financial help for costs, not payment for work or study achievement.
Synonyms
grant (Usually refers to a one-time or project-specific financial award, not ongoing support.)
|
financial assistance (General term for money given to help; less specific than 'subsidy'.)
Antonyms
tax (A compulsory payment to the government, which increases costs rather than reducing them.)
|
penalty (A financial or other punishment that discourages an activity instead of supporting it.)
Collocations
government subsidy
|agricultural subsidy
|fuel subsidy
|receive a subsidy
|cut subsidies
Themes
economics
|government
|business
|finance
|politics
Examples
- The government introduced a new subsidy for electric vehicle buyers.
- Farmers rely on subsidies to keep their prices competitive.
- The removal of fuel subsidies led to higher transportation costs.
- The theater survives thanks to an arts subsidy from the city council.
- Many small businesses applied for a COVID-19 relief subsidy.
Learner examples
- The government gives a subsidy to farmers.
- We get a subsidy for using solar panels.
- The school has a subsidy for low-income students.
- They lost their housing subsidy.
- A fuel subsidy makes gas cheaper.
Grammar
Dictionary form
subsidy
IPA
GB/sˈʌbsɪdi/
US/sˈʌbsɪdi/
Syllables & stress
sub - sidy (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sub)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: subsidy
- Plural: subsidies, subsidy
Word family
Forms
subsidies
noun
Core family
subsidize
verb C1
subsidized
adjective
Related words
subsidization
noun
Expressions
cut subsidies
1/kˈʌt sˈʌbsɪdiz/
fixed phrase
Reduce or remove subsidies
To lower the amount of money given to help pay for something, or stop giving it.
Examples
- The government decided to cut subsidies for fossil fuels.
- Cutting subsidies could make basic goods more expensive.
fuel subsidy
1/fjˈul sˈʌbsɪdi/
fixed phrase
Financial aid for fuel costs
Money given to make fuel cheaper.
Examples
- The removal of the fuel subsidy caused protests.
- The country spends billions each year on its fuel subsidy.
subsidy program
1/sˈʌbsɪdi pɹˈoʊɡɹˌæm/
fixed phrase
Organized plan for giving subsidies
A plan or system where money is given to help pay for something.
Examples
- The city launched a new subsidy program for home insulation.
- Many farmers enrolled in the federal subsidy program.