What does remunerate mean?
Remunerate is a formal verb meaning to pay or compensate someone for work, services, or a particular contribution. In employment contexts, it often refers to paying employees or workers beyond a basic arrangement or to providing compensation for duties performed. It can also mean making someone whole for a loss, expense, or other detriment, although the verb “reimburse” is usually more precise when money has already been spent. The word has a professional and somewhat formal register and is especially associated with business, law, public administration, and compensation discussions. Its Latin origin combines roots associated with reward and money, reflecting its long-established sense of returning payment or compensation to someone. Remunerate is useful when a statement needs to emphasize that payment is provided for a contribution or that compensation is being made, rather than simply describing the more general act of paying.
verbTo pay someone for work, services, or other contributions. It can also mean to compensate someone for a loss or expense.
- To pay someone for work, services, or other contributions.
- To compensate someone for a loss, expense, or other detriment.
"The company will remunerate employees for additional work performed outside normal hours."
"The charity remunerated the artists for their contributions to the project."
"The policy remunerates passengers whose luggage is delayed or damaged."
Remunerate comes from Latin roots meaning “reward” and “money”: the word literally evokes giving someone money in return for service.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of remunerate
Remunerate derives from Latin remunerare, formed from the roots rem-, meaning “back” or “again,” and munus, meaning “gift,” “service,” or “payment.” The Latin word referred to rewarding or compensating someone, especially for service. English borrowed the term in the early 16th century in the sense of paying or rewarding. Its related forms, including remuneration and remunerative, preserve the same association with payment and reward.
Related word forms
How remunerate is actually used
Formal and chiefly professional or legal in tone. It is more common in British and American business, employment, and legal contexts than in everyday conversation.
Easily confused with remunerate
Remunerate generally means to pay for work or services, whereas reimburse specifically means to repay someone for money they have already spent.
Remunerate concerns payment or compensation, while renovate means to restore or improve a building or property.