minimum-wage
UK[ˈmɪnɪməm weɪdʒ]US[ˈmɪnɪməm weɪdʒ]
n
The lowest wage that an employer is allowed to pay by law.
Morpheme Breakdown
minimum
wage
minimum
least
wage
payment
Etymology
The term "minimum-wage" is a modern legal and economic compound. Its first element, "minimum," originates from the Latin minimus, the superlative of parvus (small), meaning "the smallest." The second element, "wage," has a journey from Proto-Germanic wadja- (a pledge, guarantee), entering English via Old French to denote a payment given as a pledge for service. The compound was formed in the late 19th to early 20th century, directly combining these elements to create a precise term for the legally mandated lowest level of monetary compensation for work. Its logic is transparently literal: the smallest (minimum) payment (wage) that can legally be offered.
Analysis
Structure: minimum (least) + wage (payment)
- minimum: From Latin minimus (smallest, least). In this compound, it functions as an adjective meaning "the least or smallest permissible amount."
- wage: From Old North French wage (a pledge, payment), from a Germanic source. In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning "payment for labor or services."
Examples
The government is debating an increase in the federal minimum-wage.
Many workers struggle to afford basic necessities on the minimum-wage.
The new law ensures a higher minimum-wage for all employees in the city.