Work and business / B1

WAYJ/weɪdʒ/

A wage is pay, often weekly or hourly: the minimum wage; an hourly wage; wage rise. Salary is usually monthly professional pay; wages (plural) is common in speech (overdue wages). Pay is the general word. Do not mix wage with wedge (a triangle of wood or cheese). UK news: living wage, wage growth, frozen wages.

Meaning

Money paid for work, usually every week or by the hour.

Examples

• “The hourly wage for weekend work is slightly higher.”
• “The National Living Wage rose again in April.”
• “Factory wages were paid a week late after the systems crash.”

Good to know

minimum / hourly wage; a wage rise. Monthly professional pay: salary. General: pay. Plural speech: wages. Not wedge.

Near in meaning

pay

Topics

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