Remunerate: The Fancy Word for Getting Paid
Learn about the formal verb ‘remunerate’ and its meaning of paying for goods or services. Discover its Latin origins, synonyms, antonyms, and how to use it correctly in sentences. Avoid common mistakes and expand your vocabulary with this useful word.
Imagine you’ve just finished a long day of babysitting, and the parents return home. As they reach for their wallet, you’re about to learn a fancy word for what’s coming next: remunerate.
Word type: Verb
Meaning: Remunerate means to pay someone for goods or services rendered. It’s a formal way of saying “to pay” or “to compensate.”
Word history: The word remunerate comes from the Latin word “remuneratus,” which is the past participle of “remunerari,” meaning to reward.
It entered the English language in the mid-sixteenth century and has been used in formal contexts ever since.
Antonyms: Some antonyms for remunerate include withhold, deny, or refuse payment.
Synonyms: Synonyms for remunerate include compensate, pay, recompense, and reimburse.
Examples use in sentences: Let’s look at how to use remunerate in context. The company policy states that employees will be remunerated for any overtime hours worked.
The freelance artist was generously remunerated for her contributions to the project. It’s important to fairly remunerate workers to maintain high morale and productivity.
Common errors in use: One common mistake is confusing remunerate with renumerate. Renumerate is not actually a word, though it’s often mistakenly used in place of remunerate.
Another error is using remunerate when a simpler word like pay would be more appropriate in casual conversation.
To wrap up, remunerate is a formal way to say pay or compensate. It’s derived from Latin and is often used in professional or legal contexts.
Remember, if you’re talking about receiving payment for your work, you’re hoping to be remunerated. Using words like remunerate accurately can help boost your vocabulary and your SAT score.

