Definition of: salary

(sal′ər·ē) noun plural ·ries
A periodic allowance as compensation for official or professional services.
—v.t. ·ried, ·ry·ing To pay or allot a salary to. [<AF salarie <L salarium money paid Roman soldiers for their salt, orig. neut. of salarius of salt <sal salt] Synonyms (noun): allowance, compensation, earnings, fee, hire, honorarium, pay, payment, recompense, remuneration, requital, stipend, wages. An allowance is a stipulated amount furnished at regular intervals, as of food or of money. Compensation signifies a return for a service done. Remuneration is applied to matters of great amount or importance. Recompense has a still wider meaning; there are services for which affection and gratitude are the sole and sufficient recompense; earnings, fees, hire, pay, salary, and wages are forms of compensation and may be included in compensation, remuneration, or recompense. Pay is commercial, and signifies an exact pecuniary equivalent for a thing or service, except when the contrary is expressly stated, as when we speak of high pay or poor pay. A wage is what a worker receives, and is usually estimated on an hourly or daily rate. Earnings is often equivalent to wages, but may be used with reference to the real value of work done or service rendered, and even applied to inanimate things; as, the earnings of capital. Hire is distinctly mercenary or menial. Salary is for professional, literary, executive, or clerical work, and is usually estimated on a weekly, monthly, or annual rate. A fee is given for a single service or privilege, and is sometimes a gratuity. Compare REQUITE.