salary

/ˈsæləri/

/ˈsæləri/

Other forms: salaries

The pay or wages you earn for doing your job is called your salary. You might prefer your low-paying job to one with a higher salary because you have so much fun with your co-workers.

Salary comes from the Latin word salarium, which also means "salary" and has the root sal, or "salt." In ancient Rome, it specifically meant the amount of money allotted to a Roman soldier to buy salt, which was an expensive but essential commodity. Today, salt is an inexpensive purchase at the grocery store, and your salary is certainly to be paid in your country's currency.

Definitions of salary

1. noun

   something that remunerates
   synonyms: earnings, pay, remuneration, wage

   types:

   combat pay

   extra pay for soldiers engaged in active combat

   double time

   a doubled wage (for working overtime)

   found

   food and lodging provided in addition to money

   half-pay

   reduced wage paid to someone who is not working full time

   living wage

   a wage sufficient for a worker and family to subsist comfortably

   merit pay

   extra pay awarded to an employee on the basis of merit (especially to school teachers)

   minimum wage

   the lowest wage that an employer is allowed to pay; determined by contract or by law

   pay envelope, pay packet

   wages enclosed in an envelope for distribution to the wage earner

   sick pay

   wages paid to an employee who is on sick leave

   strike pay

   money paid to strikers from union funds

   take-home pay

   what is left of your pay after deductions for taxes and dues and insurance etc

   type of:

   regular payment

   a payment made at regular times