Subsidiation

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The process of granting financial aid, usually from a government or organization, to help cover the cost of something
2. Providing monetary support or a grant to an industry, product, or activity so its price or expense is reduced
3. Giving public or institutional funding to offset costs and keep a service, business, or good affordable

Etymology: The root idea is military. Latin "subsidium" meant a reserve force kept behind the front line, ready to sit in and support troops when needed. The verb "subsidere" meant "to sit down, settle, or remain behind," which is where the sense of staying back and being held in reserve comes from. That reserve sense carried over into money. "Subsidium" gave rise to "subsidy," a payment that supports something from behind the scenes, and to "subsidiary," something secondary or auxiliary that supports a main thing. "Subsidiation" follows the same pattern as other English nouns ending in "-ation," which turn an action into a noun. It is a rare, mostly technical word for the act of making something subsidiary or of providing a subsidy, and it keeps the original sense of support placed in a supporting position.