pecuniary

American  

[pi-kyoo-nee-er-ee] / pɪˈkyu niˌɛr i /

adjective

1. of or relating to money.

   pecuniary difficulties.

2. consisting of or given or exacted in money or monetary payments.

   pecuniary tributes.

3. (of a crime, violation, etc.) involving a money penalty or fine.

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pecuniary British  

/ pɪˈkjuːnɪərɪ /

adjective

1. consisting of or relating to money

2. law (of an offence) involving a monetary penalty

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Related Words

See financial.

Other Word Forms

• nonpecuniary adjective
• pecuniarily adverb

Etymology

Origin of pecuniary

First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin pecūniārius, derivative of pecūnia “property, money (wealth in cattle),” derivative of pecū “flock”; peculiar, fief ( def. )

Example Sentences

The state’s existing wrongful death statute calculates how much families are compensated based on pecuniary loss, or the potential earning power of the deceased person.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 29, 2023

The regulator is seeking declarations of contravention, pecuniary penalties and adverse publicity orders against IAL and IMA from the court.

From Reuters • Aug. 24, 2023

Ms Alemi denies 13 counts of fraud, three of obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception, two of forgery and two of using a false instrument.

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2023

These state programs “are unbiased and don’t have a pecuniary interest in your decision making,” Mr. Lipschutz said.

From New York Times • Nov. 5, 2022

Was his interest in these models merely pecuniary?

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides