Definition

Noun 1. A reduced salary, typically half of one's full salary, paid to an employee who is not working full time or is in a temporary non-active status: This term historically often referred to military officers, civil servants, or other officials who were retained on a roster but not in active service, receiving a reduced income.

Examples of Usage

• The retired colonel was placed on half-pay until he was called back to duty.
• During the company's restructuring, some senior staff were offered half-pay to remain on call as consultants.
• The officer lived on half-pay for several years after his regiment was disbanded.

Advanced Usage

• "To be on half-pay": This is the most common collocation, describing the state of receiving this reduced salary.
  • After the war, many officers found themselves on half-pay for a long time.
• "To be placed/put on half-pay": Describes the action of assigning someone to this status.
  • The injured firefighter was placed on half-pay during his extended recovery.

Variants and Related Words

• Half-pay list (noun): A historical term for the official roster of officers receiving half-pay.
• Half-pay officer (noun): An officer receiving half-pay.

Synonyms

• Reduced pay/salary
• Retainer (in some contexts, as a fee for availability)
• Standby pay (implies readiness to work, whereas half-pay is often for inactive status)

Notes on Meaning and Usage

• Historical Context: The term "half-pay" is strongly associated with 18th and 19th-century military and naval practice, where officers could be "on the half-pay list" when not needed for active service. While still understood, it is less common in modern general business English, where terms like "reduced hours," "part-time pay," or "furlough pay" might be used.
• Proportion: Although "half" suggests exactly 50%, the term can be used more loosely to mean a significantly reduced salary, not necessarily precisely half.
• Status: It often implies a temporary or standby status rather than a permanent part-time employment arrangement. The recipient is usually still considered an employee or member of the organization, just not in active duty.

Noun

1. reduced wage paid to someone who is not working full time