fee

[fee]

noun

1. a charge or payment for professional services.

   a doctor's fee.

   Synonyms: honorarium, emolument, salary, stipend

2. a sum paid or charged for a privilege.

   an admission fee.

3. a charge allowed by law for the service of a public officer.

4. Law.

   1. an estate of inheritance in land, either absolute and without limitation to any particular class of heirs fee simple or limited to a particular class of heirs fee tail.

   2. an inheritable estate in land held of a feudal lord on condition of the performing of certain services.

   3. a territory held in fee.

5. a gratuity; tip.

verb (used with object)

feed, feeing 

1. to give a fee to.

2. Chiefly Scot.,  to hire; employ.

fee

/ fiː /

noun

1. a payment asked by professional people or public servants for their services

   a doctor's fee

   school fees

2. a charge made for a privilege

   an entrance fee

3. property law

   1. an interest in land capable of being inherited See fee simple fee tail

   2. the land held in fee

4. (in feudal Europe) the land granted by a lord to his vassal

5. an obsolete word for a gratuity

6. 1. law (of land) in absolute ownership

   2. archaic,  in complete subjection

verb

1. rare,  to give a fee to

2. to hire for a fee

Other Word Forms

• feeless adjective
• overfee noun
• superfee noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of fee¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French; Old French fie, variant of fief fief. See feudal

Word History and Origins

Origin of fee¹

C14: from Old French fie , of Germanic origin; see _fief

Example Sentences

Its participation fee is orders of magnitude less than other fairs, making it a particularly attractive proposition for participants: small galleries showing emerging artists.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Though the White House sought to clarify that the fee doesn’t apply to current visa holders, uncertainty remains.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Members can join for an initiation fee starting at $5,000, plus monthly dues of at least $425, depending on membership tier.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

If most of your bookings are refundable or made with miles and points that can be easily redeposited without hefty fees, you don’t need to go heavy on cancellation coverage.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Microsoft will pay Harvard a licensing fee, one of the people said.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• account 
• bill 
• commission 
• compensation 
• cost 
• cut 
• expense 
• pay 
• payment 
• price 
• reward 
• salary 
• share 
• stipend 
• wage