What does subsidiarily mean?
Subsidiarily is an adverb meaning in a secondary, subordinate, or supporting way. It is used when a matter is connected to a subject but is less important than the principal issue, or when something functions in an auxiliary capacity. For example, a historical archive may be consulted subsidiarily when it provides context for a primary source. The word has a formal, scholarly tone and is uncommon in everyday speech, where a simpler expression such as “secondarily” is usually more natural. Its use can also carry a legal or analytical nuance: the issue described is not wholly irrelevant, but it does not determine the main conclusion. The related adjective “subsidiary” is likewise more precise than simply “extra,” because it emphasizes a subordinate relationship rather than mere addition.
adverbIn a secondary or subordinate manner; less importantly or as a less significant part of something.
- In a subordinate or secondary way; as a matter of lesser importance.
- In a supporting or auxiliary capacity.
"The proposal was discussed subsidiarily after the main business had been settled."
"The distinction was subsidiarily relevant to the main argument."
"The archive is used subsidiarily in the study of local history."
A fact can be true yet still be subsidiarily important: subsidiary does not mean false, only less central.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does subsidiarily come from?
The word comes from the adjective “subsidiary,” which was borrowed from Latin subsidiarus, meaning assisting or subordinate. That adjective is based on the Latin noun subsidium, meaning support or reserve, associated with sub- “under” and sedere “to sit.” The adverb “subsidiarily” was formed by adding the suffix “-ly” to “subsidiary” in the usual English way.
Related word forms
How subsidiarily is actually used
Formal and relatively uncommon. It is often used in legal, academic, or argumentative prose, where it indicates that a point is secondary to the main issue.