wage

¹wage

noun \ˈwāj\

Definition of WAGE

1

a : a payment usually of money for labor or services usually according to contract and on an hourly, daily, or piecework basis —often used in plural b plural : the share of the national product attributable to labor as a factor in production

2

: recompense, reward —usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction <the wages of sin is death — Romans 6:23 (Revised Standard Version)>

— wage·less \ˈwāj-ləs\ adjective

Examples of WAGE

1. Both of them make decent wages.
2. The table and chairs cost two weeks' wages.
3. The company offers competitive wages and good benefits.
4. The company gave workers a four percent wage increase this year.

Origin of WAGE

Middle English, pledge, recompense, from Anglo-French wage, gage, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German wetti pledge — more at wed

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to WAGE

Synonyms: emolument, hire, packet [British], pay, paycheck, pay envelope, payment, salary, stipend

Related Words: living wage, minimum wage, nominal wages, take-home pay; double time, overtime, time and a half; compensation, recompense, remittance, remuneration, requital, return; recoupment, redress, reparation, restitution; reimbursement, repayment; earnings, profit, takings, yield

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Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

Rhymes with WAGE

age, cage, gage, Gage, gauge, mage, page, rage, sage, stage, swage