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

Sony said the network earned distribution fees from unauthorized deals, licensed the shows at prices lower than market rates and favored its own shows over “Wheel” and “Jeopardy!” when making distribution deals and selling advertising.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Revenue increased 12% to $1.25 billion in the quarter, with gains in management and incentive fees as well as carried interest income.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Google, which owns YouTube, has rebuffed Disney’s demands for fee increases for ESPN, ABC and other channels.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Income from net fees and commissions made up for a slight decline in net interest income—the difference between what banks earn on loans and pay out on client deposits—due to lower rates.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Airbnb has faced greater competition, including from hotels, and consumers have complained about excessive fees.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

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