wage

1 of 2

noun

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
wages 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 deathRomans 6:23 (Revised Standard Version)
wageless adjective

wage

2 of 2

verb

waged; waging

transitive verb

: to engage in or carry on
wage war
wage a campaign

intransitive verb

: to be in process of occurring
the riot waged for several hoursAmer. Guide Series: Md.

Examples of wage in a Sentence

Noun Both of them make decent wages. The table and chairs cost two weeks' wages. The company offers competitive wages and good benefits. The company gave workers a four percent wage increase this year. Verb They waged a guerrilla war against the government. Local activists are waging a campaign to end homelessness in the region.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
This includes negative credit reporting, administrative wage garnishment (which does not require litigation or a court order), seizure of federal tax refunds, and the offset of Social Security and other federal benefits and income streams. Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 The world’s second-largest carmaker is currently locked in wage negotiations with IG Metall, one of Germany’s most powerful unions, as part of a wider company overhaul that could result in the first-ever factory closures in its home country. Hanna Ziady, CNN, 30 Sep. 2024
Verb
Russia is waging a war of attrition, relentlessly bombing towns and cities while trying to tear holes in Ukrainian defenses at places along the 600-mile front line, especially in the eastern Donbas region. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 25 Sep. 2024 The companies waged a years-long legal battle denying liability. USA TODAY, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wage 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wage.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Verb

Middle English, to offer surety, put up as a stake, hire, from Anglo-French *wager, gager, from wage

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of wage was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near wage

Cite this Entry

“Wage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wage. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

wage

1 of 2 verb
waged; waging
1
: to engage in or carry on
wage war
wage a campaign
2
: to be in the process of occurring
the battle waged for hours

wage

2 of 2 noun
1
: a payment for work or services usually calculated on an hourly, daily, or piecework basis
often used in plural
2
singular or plural : something given or received because of one's actions : reward

Legal Definition

wage

noun
1
: a payment usually of money for labor or services usually according to a contract and on an hourly, daily, or piecework basis
often used in pl.
2
plural : the share of the national product attributable to labor as a factor in production

More from Merriam-Webster on wage

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!