Definition

Noun: The lowest hourly, daily, or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. It is the lowest wage permitted by law or by a special agreement (such as a collective bargaining agreement).

Usage

The term "minimum wage" is used to discuss labor laws, economics, social policy, and workers' rights. It typically functions as a singular noun, often preceded by "the." It can be the subject or object of a sentence.

Examples

• The federal minimum wage is set by Congress.
• Many workers are struggling because the minimum wage has not increased in years.
• The new law will raise the state's minimum wage to $15 per hour.
• Do you think the minimum wage should be a living wage?

Advanced Usage

• "To earn minimum wage": To be paid at the lowest legally allowable rate.
  • Even with a college degree, she was only earning minimum wage at the cafe.
• "Minimum-wage" (as an attributive adjective): Used before a noun to describe something related to or earning the minimum wage.
  • He worked a series of minimum-wage jobs after high school.
  • The proposal aims to help minimum-wage workers.

Variants and Related Words

• Living wage (noun): A wage that is high enough to maintain a normal standard of living.
• Prevailing wage (noun): The average wage paid to similarly employed workers in a specific occupation in the area.
• Subminimum wage (noun): A wage rate below the standard minimum wage, sometimes legally allowed for specific groups like students or tipped employees.

Synonyms

• Base pay
• Lowest legal wage
• Wage floor

Antonyms

• Maximum wage (theoretical)
• Living wage (in context, as a contrast to an insufficient minimum wage)

Related Phrases

• To raise/lift/increase the minimum wage: To make the legal wage floor higher.
  • Activists are campaigning to raise the minimum wage.
• To be paid/earn at/on minimum wage: To receive compensation at that specific rate.
  • Most of the staff are paid at minimum wage.
• Minimum wage law/legislation: The legal statutes that establish the wage floor.
  • The minimum wage law was first introduced in the 1930s.

Noun

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