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

Lula and Bolsonaro discussed the value of the minimum wage, public security policies, Brazil's free healthcare system initiatives and incentives for agribusiness. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

During his two terms, from 2002 to 2006, Brazil saw rising employment, a higher minimum wage and a major expansion of consumer power among poorer Brazilians, according to Brazil’s official census. — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026

An earlier lawsuit by a former cheerleader had accused the Cowboys of paying her less than minimum wage. — Rob Wile, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026

More than 75% support a federal wealth tax on the ultra-rich and 80% say the minimum wage should be increased. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 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