wage

The word “wage” means money paid to a worker, usually calculated by the hour. In plain terms, pay for work, or, as a verb, to actively carry out something like a war or campaign.

“Wage” is pronounced wayj (/weɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).

Here is “wage” used in a sentence: “His hourly wage barely covers the rent.”

Depending on how it is used, “wage” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “wage” comes from Old French. From Old French "gauge/guage", meaning a pledge or payment, ultimately from a Germanic word for "pledge" — the same root that gives us "wager" and "wed".

“Wage” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Wage” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: money paid to a worker, usually calculated by the hour.

A wage is usually paid by the hour, so your earnings rise and fall with the hours you work. A salary is a fixed yearly amount, paid in equal instalments regardless of exact hours. Manual and hourly jobs typically pay wages, while professional and office roles often pay a salary.

Despite the similar spelling, these are unrelated. A wage is money you earn for working, typically paid by the hour. A wager is a bet, money you stake on an uncertain outcome, hoping to win more. One is guaranteed pay for labour; the other is a gamble you can lose.

A minimum wage is the lowest hourly rate an employer is legally allowed to pay. Set by government, it aims to protect workers from unfairly low pay and ensure a basic standard of living. Rates vary by country and are often reviewed and raised over time to track living costs.

Gross wages are your total earnings before anything is taken out. Net wages, often called take-home pay, are what actually reaches you after deductions such as income tax, national insurance, and pension contributions. The gap between the two is why your payslip total looks higher than the amount in your account.