wage

American  

[weyj] / weɪdʒ /

noun

1. Often wages. money that is paid or received for work or services, as by the hour, day, or week.

   Synonyms:

   remuneration, compensation, emolument, earnings

2. Economics. Usually wages. the share of the products of industry received by labor for its work (as distinct from the share going to capital).

3. (used with a singular or plural verb) Usually wages. recompense or return.

   The wages of sin is death.

4. Obsolete. a pledge or security.

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verb (used with object)

waged, waging

1. to carry on (a battle, war, conflict, argument, etc.).

   to wage war against a nation.

   Synonyms:

   prosecute, undertake

2. Chiefly British Dialect. to hire.

3. Obsolete.

   1. to stake or wager.

   2. to pledge.

verb (used without object)

waged, waging

1. Obsolete. to contend; struggle.

wage British  

/ weɪdʒ /

noun

1. 1. (often plural) payment in return for work or services, esp that made to workmen on a daily, hourly, weekly, or piece-work basis Compare salary

   2. ( as modifier )

      wage freeze

2. (plural) economics the portion of the national income accruing to labour as earned income, as contrasted with the unearned income accruing to capital in the form of rent, interest, and dividends

3. (often plural) recompense, return, or yield

4. an obsolete word for pledge

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verb

1. to engage in

2. obsolete to pledge or wager

3. archaic another word for hire hire

Related Words

See pay ¹.

Other Word Forms

• underwage noun
• wageless adjective
• wagelessness noun

Etymology

Origin of wage

First recorded in 1275–1325; (noun) Middle English: “pledge, security,” from Anglo-French; Old French guage gage ¹, from unattested Vulgar Latin wadium, from Germanic ( wed ); (verb) Middle English wagen “to pledge,” from Anglo-French wagier; Old French guagier, from unattested Vulgar Latin wadiāre, derivative of wadium

Example Sentences

As job gains have slowed, consumption has instead been underpinned by strong real wage growth, i.e., wages that have outpaced inflation.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Firms’ margins would be pummeled and consumer wage growth dragged underwater.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

The unemployment rate is a key factor for the European Central Bank as it calibrates policy amid rising inflation and wage demand concerns.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The operations manager said the hike coincided with increasing energy costs, fuel duty and and a rise in the minimum wage.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

I can’t wage war against Abnegation, against my family.

From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth