subsidy

noun (plural subsidies)

• 1a sum of money granted by the state or a public body to help an industry or business keep the price of a commodity or service low:a farm subsidy [mass noun]:the rail service now operates without subsidy
• a sum of money granted to support an undertaking held to be in the public interest: she was anxious about her Arts Council subsidy [mass noun]:the arts continued to thrive through public subsidy
• a grant or contribution of money: the position is generously rewarded and benefits include a mortgage subsidy the country’s economy is near to collapse after the end of Soviet subsidies

• 2 historical a parliamentary grant to the sovereign for state needs.
• a tax levied on a particular occasion.