subsidiary
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Functioning in a supporting or secondary role; supplementary. Describes something that is less important than but related to something else, providing additional support or function.
- Of or relating to a subsidiary company. Describes a company that is controlled by another company.
Noun:
- A company that is completely controlled by another company. A separate legal entity, often with its own management, but whose controlling stock is owned by a parent company.
- (Less common) An assistant or subordinate subject to the authority of another. A person or thing that serves in a supporting capacity.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- The report included several subsidiary points that supported the main argument.
- The corporation has a subsidiary interest in renewable energy technologies.
- The parent company oversees all its subsidiary operations.
Noun:
- The automotive manufacturer owns a subsidiary that produces car batteries.
- Profits from the European subsidiary increased this quarter.
- (Less common) He acted as a subsidiary to the lead investigator.
Advanced Usage
- "Wholly-owned subsidiary": A subsidiary company in which the parent company owns 100% of the stock.
- The tech giant acquired the startup as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
- "Subsidiary role": A position or function that is secondary and supportive.
- In this project, marketing plays a subsidiary role to research and development.
Variants and Related Words
- Subsidiarily (adverb): In a subsidiary manner.
- The matter was dealt with subsidiarily to the main agenda.
- Subsidiarity (noun): The principle that a central authority should perform only those tasks which cannot be performed at a more local level. (This is a related but distinct concept, often used in political contexts.)
- The EU principle of subsidiarity aims to ensure decisions are taken as closely as possible to the citizen.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Auxiliary, secondary, supplementary, ancillary, supporting, adjunct.
- Noun (company): Affiliate, branch, division, offshoot.
- Noun (assistant): Subordinate, aide, assistant, adjunct.
Related Phrases
- "Subsidiary to": Being of secondary importance or under the control of.
- These financial concerns are subsidiary to the main ethical issue.
- "Operating subsidiary": A subsidiary company that conducts business operations, as opposed to being a holding company.
- The bank's main operating subsidiary handles all retail customer accounts.
Related Idioms
(Note: "Subsidiary" itself is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions. Its usage is primarily formal and technical.)
Adjective
- functioning in a supporting capacity
- the main library and its auxiliary branches
Noun
- a company that is completely controlled by another company
- an assistant subject to the authority or control of another