remuneration
remuneration
Pronunciation
/ɹɪˌmjuːnəˈɹeɪʃən/
re- (ɹɪ)
/ɹ/ - voiced alveolar approximant (the "r" sound)
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel (the short "i" sound)
mu- (ˌmjuː)
/ˌ/ - secondary stress
/m/ - voiced bilabial nasal
/juː/ - palatal approximant followed by a long high back vowel.
ne- (nə)
/n/ - voiced alveolar nasal
/ə/ - mid-central vowel (schwa)
ra- (ˈɹeɪ)
/ˈ/ - primary stress
/ɹ/ - voiced alveolar approximant (the "r" sound)
/eɪ/ - diphthong, a combination of the mid-front unrounded vowel and near-close front unrounded vowel.
tion (ʃən)
/ʃ/ - voiceless postalveolar fricative (the "sh" sound)
/ən/ - mid-central vowel followed by a voiced alveolar nasal.
Word Form Variations
Remuneration (singular, uncountable):
This is the most common form. It refers to the payment or compensation received for work or services. In this form, it often refers to the concept of payment in general.
Remunerations (plural, countable):
While "remuneration" is often used as an uncountable noun, it can also be used in the plural form "remunerations." This would be used when referring to multiple instances or types of payments. For example, when referring to different packages of payment.
Related word forms:
Remunerate (verb): This is the verb form, meaning to pay or compensate someone.
Remunerative (adjective): This adjective means profitable or providing good remuneration.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun: Remuneration
Definition 1:
The act or process of providing payment or compensation for services rendered or work performed.
Synonyms: compensation, payment, salary, wages, fee, earnings, recompense, reimbursement, stipend, emolument.
Antonyms: nonpayment, debt, loss, forfeiture.
Definition 2:
The total amount of money or other benefits received in exchange for labor or services.
Synonyms: pay, reward, returns, consideration, settlement, honorarium.
Antonyms: penalty, fine, charge, expenditure.
Definition 3 (plural, remunerations):
Individual instances or forms of payment.
Synonyms: payments, compensations, fees, disbursements, allocations.
Antonyms: deductions, witholdings, losses.
Verb: Remunerate
Definition:
To provide payment or compensation to someone for work done or services provided.
Synonyms: pay, compensate, reimburse, reward, recompense, settle with, satisfy, indemnify.
Antonyms: withhold, penalize, charge, fine, deprive.
Adjective: Remunerative
Definition:
Providing a good or substantial return; profitable or financially rewarding.
Synonyms: profitable, lucrative, rewarding, advantageous, gainful, fruitful, paying, worthwhile.
Antonyms: unprofitable, unrewarding, losing, disadvantageous, fruitless, worthless.
Examples of Use
In Business and Finance:
Executive Compensation:
"The company's annual report detailed the executive's substantial remuneration package, including salary, bonuses, and stock options." (Financial news sources like The Wall Street Journal or Bloomberg often use this term)
Discussions regarding "executive remuneration" are very common in financial news, when companies release information regarding how much their top level employees are being paid.
Employee Benefits:
"Total remuneration includes not only salary but also benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans." (From business resources like ADP: "What is Remuneration? | Definition and Examples - ADP")
Companies when describing total compensation packages to potential or current employees, will use the word remuneration.
In Legal and Policy Contexts:
Contractual Agreements:
"The contract stipulated the remuneration to be paid for services rendered." (Legal documents and news reports on legal cases)
Labor Laws:
Discussions surrounding fair "remuneration" for workers are common in debates on minimum wage and labor rights. (News outlets and policy reports)
Copyright and Intellectual Property:
"There has been much debate concerning fair remuneration for artists in the streaming era." (Publications like Billboard or Variety, discussing music and entertainment industry issues)
In General Public Discourse:
Discussions on Pay Equity:
"The issue of gender pay gap often involves discussions about equitable remuneration." (News articles and opinion pieces on social issues)
Public Sector Employment:
News articles, and public discussions, regarding the pay scales of public servants, such as teachers, or government officials, frequently use the term remuneration.
10 Famous Quotes Using Remuneration
“Labor deserves fair remuneration, for dignity is diminished when work is undervalued.” (Unknown)
“True service seeks purpose first and remuneration second, though both have their rightful place.” (Unknown)
“Justice in commerce begins with honest remuneration for honest work.” (Adam Smith)
“Let not the promise of remuneration eclipse the integrity of one’s craft.” (Unknown)
“Excessive remuneration may enrich the pockets but impoverish the character.” (Unknown)
“In leadership, praise is often more powerful than remuneration, yet both must be given with discernment.” (Peter Drucker)
“Every worker, from the humblest to the highest, should receive remuneration proportionate to their contribution.” (Theodore Roosevelt)
“When remuneration becomes the sole measure of success, one risks forgetting the deeper rewards of meaningful labor.” (Unknown)
“Fair remuneration is not charity; it is the foundation of trust between employer and employed.” (Unknown)
“A society reveals its values by the remuneration it grants to those who educate, heal, and build its future.” (Unknown)
Etymology
The Breakdown:
The word "remuneration" comes from the Latin word "remuneratio," which means "a reward." To understand that, we can break it down further:
re-: This Latin prefix means "again" or "back."
munerare: This Latin verb means "to give as a gift or reward." This, in turn, comes from "munus," which means "gift, duty, or service."
So, essentially, "remuneration" is about "giving back" for a service or duty performed.
Tracing the History:
The Latin "remuneratio" was used in ancient Rome to describe the act of giving rewards or compensation.
When Latin evolved into various Romance languages and influenced English, "remuneration" was adopted.
The first known use of the word in English was in the late 15th century.
It has kept its core meaning through the years.
In Simple Terms:
Imagine someone does a job for you. "Remuneration" is the act of giving them something back for their work—a reward or payment. It's about recognizing their service with something of value. So, the word has its roots in the idea of a "gift back" for a service.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Remuneration
Why It's Rare in Idioms:
Formal Tone: "Remuneration" is a word used in official or professional contexts. Idioms, on the other hand, tend to be informal and figurative.
Specificity: The word refers specifically to payment or compensation. Idioms often use more general or metaphorical language.
Instead, we find it in phrases within formal contexts:
"Remuneration package": This phrase refers to the total compensation an employee receives, including salary, benefits, and bonuses.
"Fair remuneration": This phrase is often used in discussions about labor rights and pay equity, emphasizing the idea of just compensation.
"Executive remuneration": This refers to the compensation of high-level company executives.
"Forms of remuneration": This phrase is used when discussing the various ways in which someone might be paid, such as salary, commission, or stock options.
Supplementing with Synonyms and Related Concepts:
Since direct idioms are scarce, let's look at idioms related to payment and reward, which capture the essence of "remuneration":
"To earn one's keep": (Meaning: to provide enough work or service to justify one's pay or upkeep.) This captures the idea of receiving remuneration for work done.
"To pay one's dues": (Meaning: to endure a period of hardship or effort as a prerequisite for success or reward.) This relates to the idea of earning remuneration through effort.
"A fair day's wage for a fair day's work": (Meaning: equitable compensation for labor.) This is a classic expression of the concept of fair remuneration.
"Get paid your worth": (Meaning: to receive the appropriate compensation for the work that was completed.)
Original Phrases:
"The question of remuneration": Used to refer to the act of negotiating or discussing payment.
"Remuneration commensurate with experience": Used when a payment amount is relative to the amount of experience a person has.
While "remuneration" itself doesn't feature in many idioms, the concepts of payment and reward are present in numerous expressions.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of remuneration from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
