B2noun1K

Wage

UK /["/weɪdʒ/"]/US /["/weɪdʒ/"]/

Definition

a regular amount of money that you earn, usually every week or every month, for work or services

In simple words: The money you earn for working.

Examples

  • The wage that I earn gives me a comfortable lifestyle.
  • They decided to raise the minimum wage to help workers.
  • The group agreed to wage a campaign against pollution.
  • She struggled to pay her bills on her current wage.
  • To wage war is a serious decision that affects many lives.

Usage notes

Use 'wage' when talking about payment for work, especially in jobs like hourly work. It's not common to use 'wage' for informal jobs or tasks without clear payment.

Grammar pattern

wage + object

Memory hint

Think of 'wage' like 'page' — the page that tells you how much you earn.

Collocations

  • competitive
  • decent
  • fair
  • pay
  • earn
  • make
  • increase
  • rise
  • fall
  • earner
  • labour/​labor
  • labourer/​laborer
  • a cut in wages
  • a decline in wages
  • a fall in wages

Synonyms

  • pay
  • earnings
  • income
  • remuneration
  • compensation

Antonyms

  • debt
  • loss

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'salary' which usually refers to a fixed annual amount.
  • Using 'wages' incorrectly as a singular term, when it's generally plural (wages).