Wages

/ˈweɪdʒɪz/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A fixed regular payment earned for work, typically paid on a daily or weekly basis.
The company increased the minimum wages for all employees to ensure a fair standard of living.
Monetary compensation for labor or services rendered.
She is proud of the wages she earns as a skilled technician in the manufacturing industry.
The rewards or consequences of actions, especially in a moral or ethical sense.
He believed that good deeds would bring good wages in return, while wrongdoing would lead to misfortune.

Etymology

Middle English, from Old North French 'wagier', meaning 'to pledge or promise'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

living wage
A wage that is high enough to maintain a normal standard of living.
minimum wage
The lowest legal wage that can be paid to workers.
wage increase
A raise in the amount of salary or pay.
wage gap
The disparity in earnings between different groups of workers.

Related Words

salary
A regular payment made by an employer to an employee, typically monthly.
remuneration
Money paid for work or a service.
compensation
Something, typically money, awarded to someone as a recompense for loss, injury, or suffering.

Slang Meanings

Dough
I need to make some dough this weekend.
Benjamins
He's stacking up the Benjamins with that new job.