Jump To:

• minimum wage
  minimum wage

  noun

  the lowest wage payable to employees in general or to designated employees as fixed by law or by union agreement.
• minimum-wage
  minimum-wage

  adjective

  of or relating to a minimum wage.

minimum wage

¹ American  

noun

1. the lowest wage payable to employees in general or to designated employees as fixed by law or by union agreement.

---

minimum-wage ² American  

[min-uh-muhm-weyj] / ˈmɪn ə məmˈweɪdʒ /

adjective

1. of or relating to a minimum wage.

   minimum-wage demands.

2. paid or earning a minimum wage.

   a minimum-wage worker.

3. paying a minimum wage.

   a minimum-wage job.

---

minimum wage British  

noun

1. the lowest wage that an employer is permitted to pay by law or union contract

---

minimum wage Cultural  

1. The lowest legal hourly wage.

---

Etymology

Origin of minimum wage

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

Over the years, the union has submitted dozens of local and statewide ballot initiatives, including ones to cap the pay of hospital executives, regulate dialysis clinics, and raise the minimum wage of healthcare workers.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Enrollees are paid the highest of the state, federal or local minimum wage and work an average of 20 hours per week.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

L.A.’s minimum wage for hotel workers had been $20.32 an hour, so the new wage mandate amounted to a 38% increase over three years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

But he said too many carers across the country were not being paid for their travel time and this risked pushing their hourly rate below the national minimum wage.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

"After you left I was thinking...I really could use a hand. But I could only pay minimum wage, and only a couple shifts per week."

From "We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour

Related Words

• living wage