minimum wage

noun

1

: living wage

2

: the lowest wage paid or permitted to be paid

specifically : a wage fixed by legal authority or by contract as the least that may be paid either to employed persons generally or to a particular category of employed persons

Examples of minimum wage in a Sentence

Congress will vote on a bill to raise the minimum wage.

Recent Examples on the Web

CareLinx handles payroll processing, so caregivers earn at least minimum wage and pay just the employee portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes. —Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026

Some of it may relate to changes in minimum wage laws or other factors, but these were flashing warning signs well before this most recent conflict. —Michael Khouw, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026

Supporters argue the move is long overdue, noting that Pennsylvania’s minimum wage has remained unchanged for nearly two decades. —Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026

Perkins is responsible for helping to create Social Security, the minimum wage and unemployment insurance. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for minimum wage

• alienage
• age
• gauge
• phage
• plage
• rage
• stage
• assuage
• backstage
• bocage
• downstage
• engage

Kids Definition

minimum wage

noun

: a wage fixed (as by law) as the least that may be paid to employed persons

Legal Definition

minimum wage

noun

: a wage fixed by contract or especially by law as the least that may be paid either to employees generally or to a particular category of employees compare scale