| English Dictionary |
SUBSIDIARY
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does subsidiary mean?
• SUBSIDIARY (noun)
The noun SUBSIDIARY has 2 senses:
1. an assistant subject to the authority or control of another
2. a company that is completely controlled by another company
Familiarity information: SUBSIDIARY used as a noun is rare.
• SUBSIDIARY (adjective)
The adjective SUBSIDIARY has 1 sense:
1. functioning in a supporting capacity
Familiarity information: SUBSIDIARY used as an adjective is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
An assistant subject to the authority or control of another
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
foot soldier; subordinate; subsidiary; underling
Hypernyms ("subsidiary" is a kind of...):
assistant; help; helper; supporter (a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "subsidiary"):
associate (a person with subordinate membership in a society, institution, or commercial enterprise)
bottom dog (a person of low status)
cog (a subordinate who performs an important but routine function)
man (a male subordinate)
second banana; second fiddle (someone who serves in a subordinate capacity or plays a secondary role)
Derivation:
subsidiary (functioning in a supporting capacity)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A company that is completely controlled by another company
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Synonyms:
subsidiary; subsidiary company
Hypernyms ("subsidiary" is a kind of...):
company (an institution created to conduct business)
Derivation:
subsidiary (functioning in a supporting capacity)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Functioning in a supporting capacity
Synonyms:
auxiliary; subsidiary; supplemental; supplementary
Context example:
the main library and its auxiliary branches
Similar:
secondary (being of second rank or importance or value; not direct or immediate)
Derivation:
subsidiarity (secondary importance)
subsidiary (a company that is completely controlled by another company)
subsidiary (an assistant subject to the authority or control of another)
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