Subsidiary

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "Subsidiary" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to a company that is controlled by another company. Example: "The subsidiary reported a significant increase in revenue this quarter." Alternative expressions include "affiliate" and "branch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

During the hearing, it emerged that neither HMRC, the Treasury or the UK bank regulators appear to have questioned why HSBC's Swiss subsidiary had become a magnet for thousands of rich people across Europe and whether there was any systemic problem in the bank's governance.

The Guardian

Multimap will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Microsoft, which did not disclose the price of the acquisition.

The Guardian

McDonald's is accused of channelling money through a Luxembourg-based subsidiary with a Swiss branch to exploit a generous tax break on intellectual property rights.

The Guardian - Business

This article was amended on 10 May 2010, to clarify that it was the live elements of Channel 4's Alternative Election Night which were made by Endemol UK subsidiary Zeppotron.

The Guardian

In 2012, the Knights Templar cartel in neighboring Michoacan state burned five warehouses and dozens of vehicles owned by Sabritas snack company, a Mexican subsidiary of PespsiCo.

The Guardian

Much of the advertising work for API was handled by an Edelman subsidiary, Blue Advertising.

The Guardian - Business

"Normally you've got a subsidiary, so you can nearly always go through the courts of the local place where it all took place,' says Day. "The problems are firstly that you have to find the costs, secondly the process will take many years and third is corruption".

The Guardian

In some of the most brutal and personal exchanges of this parliament, Miliband seized on reports published by the Guardian an hour before prime minister's questions showing seven Tory donors had bank accounts in HSBC's Swiss subsidiary.

The Guardian

Margaret Hodge, who chairs the committee, said it appeared that activities related to the Geneva branch of HSBC's Swiss subsidiary were "pretty outrageous" and told Homer that tax investigators should have spoken to whistleblower Hervé Falciani, who obtained the list while employed as an IT worker in 2007.

The Guardian

According to Echegaray, HSBC's subsidiary in Argentina designed a platform to help clients hide funds in Swiss accounts.

The Guardian - Business

Transport minister Edwina Hart recently announced the creation of a non-for-profit subsidiary of the Welsh government, which could potentially run rail services from 2018.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about business structures, be precise with the term "subsidiary" to clearly denote the relationship between the parent company and its owned entity.

Common error

Avoid using "subsidiary" interchangeably with "branch" or "affiliate". A "subsidiary" is owned and controlled by another company, while a "branch" is an extension of the main company, and an "affiliate" has a less formal connection.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "subsidiary" is as a noun, referring to a company owned or controlled by another company. As Ludwig AI shows, it can also function as an adjective, describing something auxiliary or subordinate.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Formal & Business

23%

Science

14%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "subsidiary" functions primarily as a noun denoting a company owned by a parent organization. As Ludwig AI demonstrates, it's frequently used in news and business contexts to describe corporate structures and financial activities. While grammatically straightforward, it's crucial to differentiate "subsidiary" from related terms like "branch" or "affiliate". The frequency and authoritative sources confirm its importance in formal and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Affiliate company

Focuses on the connection as a member of a larger group.

Daughter company

Emphasizes the parent-child relationship in terms of ownership.

Branch

Highlights a physical or operational extension of the main entity.

Division

Indicates a segment or unit within a larger organization.

Subdivision

Refers to a smaller part of a larger division.

Associated company

Suggests a looser connection than direct ownership.

Controlled entity

Emphasizes the aspect of one entity having control over another.

Dependent company

Stresses the reliance of one company on another.

Sister company

Implies that both companies share the same parent organization.

Secondary unit

Highlights the subordinate role within a broader organizational structure.

FAQs

How does a "subsidiary" differ from a branch?

A "subsidiary" is a separate legal entity owned and controlled by a parent company. A branch is simply an extension of the parent company's operations and not a separate legal entity.

What are common synonyms for "subsidiary"?

Common synonyms for "subsidiary" include "affiliate company", "daughter company", and "division" depending on the context.

In what contexts is the term "subsidiary" most frequently used?

The term "subsidiary" is most commonly used in business, finance, and legal contexts when discussing corporate structures and ownership.

What responsibilities does a parent company have toward its "subsidiary"?

A parent company typically has responsibilities related to the financial oversight, strategic direction, and legal compliance of its "subsidiary".