subsidize
/ˈsʌb.sɪ.daɪz/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To give money to a person, company, or activity so the cost is lower. Governments often subsidize food, transport, farming, or housing.
- The government subsidizes public transport.
- They subsidized the new farm equipment.
- Her parents subsidized her studies.
Adinary Nuance
Subsidize means to support something with money, usually so it can cost less or continue. It is more specific than help or support, because money is involved. It is also more formal than pay for, which sounds more everyday. In business and government writing, subsidize is the clearest choice.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- trợ cấp
- Spanish
- subvencionar
- Chinese
- 补贴
- Japanese
- 補助する
- Korean
- 보조금을 주다
Etymology
Subsidize comes from Latin subsidium, meaning “help” or “support.” It entered English through French and was used more widely in the 18th century.
Common phrases
subsidize educationsubsidize farmingsubsidize public transportheavily subsidized
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is subsidize a formal word?
- Yes. It is common in government, economics, and business writing.
- What is the difference between subsidize and support?
- Support is broad. Subsidize means giving money to reduce the cost or keep something going.
- Can I use subsidize for a person?
- Yes, if someone pays part of their costs, like education or housing.
- Is subsidize common in IELTS writing?
- Yes. It is useful for topics like transport, education, farming, and public policy.