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View synonyms for salary

salary

[ sal-uh-ree ]

noun

, plural sal·a·ries.
  1. a fixed compensation periodically paid to a person for regular work or services.


salary

/ ˈsælərɪ /

noun

  1. See wage
    a fixed regular payment made by an employer, often monthly, for professional or office work as opposed to manual work Compare wage


verb

  1. tr to pay a salary to

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Other Words From

  • sala·ry·less adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of salary1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English salarie, from Anglo-French, from Latin salārium “money given to soldiers to buy salt, salt money.” See sal, -ary

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Word History and Origins

Origin of salary1

C14: from Anglo-Norman salarie, from Latin salārium the sum given to Roman soldiers to buy salt, from sal salt

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Compare Meanings

How does salary compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

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Synonym Study

See pay 1.

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Example Sentences

Bannon is the group’s president and is described as working 80 hours a week for the group with no salary.

The company cut its dividend for the second quarter by 38 percent, suspended more than $1 billion of development projects and temporarily reduced staff salaries by as much as 30 percent.

From Ozy

Because all of our big sports, the average salaries are in the millions of dollars.

The researchers surmised that the company would have to raise salaries by a third in order to compete with simple messaging of social impact.

From Fortune

Under the scheme, the UK government pays workers up to 80% of their salary for a limited period of time, allowing companies to retain them without paying them—though companies were allowed to top up the government money.

From Quartz

They will still receive a salary if something is to happen to Ziad, but she is trying to make sure she saves as much as possible.

Yes, lawyers bill by the hour but are paid an annual salary—plus bonuses.

Clinkscales is still a cop, and made more than $100,000 in salary and overtime last year.

Still, he admitted—without disclosing his salary—that he wondered whether the paychecks were too good to last.

He looks like a man of the woods, but works at The Nerdery, programming for a healthy salary and benefits.

With this object in view, he has been continually paid his salary from the judicial expenses.

Sir Peter Edlin, it seems, has been doing treble the amount of work for a two-third's salary.

Thimbletoes doesn't fancy that, you know, because the Prime Minister has all the honey he wants, by way of a salary.

Your Majesty assigns him no salary, for it seems to be your intention to have him attend to that duty with his salary as fiscal.

Twenty dollars a month is the salary, and school keeps for six months, so I shall earn the large sum of $120 a year.

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Related Words

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More About Salary

What is a salary?

A salary is a fixed, regular payment in exchange for work. This is different from earning a fee that depends on how many hours you work (earning a fixed rate per hour) or how much work you do, sometimes called piecework.

When you earn a salary, it is usually stated as the amount of money you will receive in one year for doing the work (before any taxes are paid). You will then be paid in equal amounts each pay period over the course of that year, even when you are on a paid vacation. How often you are paid will vary from company to company, with every other week and twice a month being most common.

To salary someone is to pay them a salary. A salaried employee is someone who is paid a salary instead of paid another way, such as paid by the hour.

Example: How can they expect me to live my best life when I’m paid on such a low salary?

Where does salary come from?

The first records of the term salary come from the 1300s. It ultimately comes from the Latin salārium meaning “money given to soldiers to buy salt” or “salt money.” In Latin, sāl means “salt.” In ancient Rome, the value of salt sometimes vastly exceeded the value of currency or was used as a suitable replacement for it. Sāl is still used to mean “salt” to, mainly in pharmacology. 

Salaries receive a lot of criticism. A salary is calculated based on the number of hours you would work each week, but most times you don’t need to prove you worked those hours. If no one notices that you come in late and leave early, you’ll be paid for hours you didn’t work. That could be considered stealing from the company if it happens frequently.

Equally, if you work more hours each week than your salary covers, you’ll be working for free. Salaried employees don’t usually mind working a couple extra hours once in a while in order to complete their work. When it happens frequently, however, that, too, might be considered stealing, especially if your boss doesn’t let you choose not to work. The company could be said to be stealing work from you.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to salary?

  • salaryless (adjective)
  • salaried (verb, adjective)
  • undersalaried (verb)

What are some synonyms for salary?

What are some words that share a root or word element with salary?

What are some words that often get used in discussing salary?

What are some words salary may be commonly confused with?

How is salary used in real life?

A salary is a common way to pay an employee who works a profession that does not include manual labor or wearing a uniform.

 

Try using salary!

Is salary used correctly in the following sentence?

I’m so excited that the salary at my new job will mean I can buy a new car!

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salariedsalary cap