wage

[ weyj ]

noun

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

   Synonyms: remuneration, compensation, emolument, earnings

2. Usually wages. Economics. the share of the products of industry received by labor for its work (as distinct from the share going to capital).
3. Usually wages. (used with a singular or plural verb) recompense or return:

   The wages of sin is death.

4. Obsolete. a pledge or security.

verb (used with object)

, waged, wag·ing.

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, wag·ing.

1. Obsolete. to contend; struggle.

wage

/ 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

verb

1. to engage in
2. obsolete.
   to pledge or wager
3. archaic.
   another word for hire hire

Derived Forms

• ˈwagelessness, noun
• ˈwageless, adjective

Other Words From

• wageless adjective
• wageless·ness noun
• under·wage noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wage¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of wage¹

C14: from Old Northern French wagier to pledge, from wage, of Germanic origin; compare Old English weddian to pledge, wed

Synonym Study

See pay ¹.

Example Sentences

Their labor is for the most part barely compensated, at rates far below minimum wage.

From Los Angeles Times

Much depends, as numerous members of the Bank of England have suggested, on the pass through of Budget measures into prices and wages.

From BBC

Another problem caused by the fire is the loss of wages for field hands in Ventura County’s fruit and vegetable farms.

From Los Angeles Times

Californians, who have historically supported efforts to raise the minimum wage, were not swayed this time around.

From Los Angeles Times

Concerns have been rising in Europe that Russia may wage a hybrid war against it in retaliation for helping Ukraine defend itself since a full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

From New York Times