premium

[ pree-mee-uhm ]

/ ˈpri mi əm /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR premium ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a prize, bonus, or award given as an inducement, as to purchase products, enter competitions initiated by business interests, etc.

a bonus, gift, or sum additional to price, wages, interest, or the like.

Insurance. the amount paid or to be paid by the policyholder for coverage under the contract, usually in periodic installments.

Economics. the excess value of one form of money over another of the same nominal value.

a sum above the nominal or par value of a thing.

the amount paid to the lender of stock by the borrower, typically a short seller.

the amount the buyer of a call or put option pays to the seller, quoted in dollars per share of stock.

a fee paid for instruction in a trade or profession.

a sum additional to the interest paid for the loan of money.

adjective

of exceptional quality or greater value than others of its kind; superior: a wine made of premium grapes.

of higher price or cost.

of or relating to premiums: to work in premium sales.

Nearby words

premillennialism, premillennialize, preminger, premise, premises, premium, premium loan, premium savings bonds, premix, première, première danseuse

Idioms

at a premium,

at an unusually high price.
in short supply; in demand: Housing in that area is at a premium.

Origin of premium

First recorded in 1595–1605, premium is from the Latin word praemium profit, reward

SYNONYMS FOR premium

2 reward. See bonus.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR premium ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

non·pre·mi·um, nounsu·per·pre·mi·um, adjective, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for premium

The lucky recipient gets to choose from a selection of gifts ranging from cocktail kits to packages of wine and premium spirits.
The Daily Beast’s 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: For the Don Draper in Your Life|Allison McNearney|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Christie, who places a premium on the fact that he was cool in high school, sounds conservative memes without invoking the Divine.
2016 Just May Be the GOP Base’s Year|Lloyd Green|August 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some services charge a fee for premium functionality, and sometimes, this functionality includes exporting the data.
Self-Tracking for N00bz|Jamie Todd Rubin|July 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The patrons repaid the mob by buying cheap liquor at premium prices, along with bootleg cigarettes and sometimes drugs.
A True Tough Guy: The Mafia, Gays, and Michael Sam’s Boyfriend|Michael Daly|May 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“No one turned up until about five days later,” an anonymous resident told the Premium Times.
How Nigeria’s Stupidly Brutal Cops Botch the Hunt for Boko Haram|Nico Hines|May 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
King x Loudan, No. 4, is a variety that has been sent out as premium the last three years.
Trees, Fruits and Flowers of Minnesota, 1916|Various
As this was the highest number for that year he thus became entitled to the premium of £500.
King's Cutters and Smugglers 1700-1855|E. Keble Chatterton
From the hotel keeper he learned that rooms already were at a premium.
Voice from the Cave|Mildred A. Wirt
It may appear that the premium bid was ten cents on each share.
Convenient Houses|Louis Henry Gibson
There is no place on earth, be it ever so remote and secluded, in which character is not at a premium.
The Betrayal of John Fordham|B.L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon

British Dictionary definitions for premium

premium

/ (ˈpriːmɪəm) /

noun

an amount paid in addition to a standard rate, price, wage, etc; bonus

the amount paid or payable, usually in regular instalments, for an insurance policy

the amount above nominal or par value at which something sells

an offer of something free or at a specially reduced price as an inducement to buy a commodity or service
(as modifier)a premium offer

a prize given to the winner of a competition; award

US an amount sometimes charged for a loan of money in addition to the interest

great value or regardto put a premium on someone's services

a fee, now rarely required, for instruction or apprenticeship in a profession or trade

at a premium

in great demand or of high value, usually because of scarcity
above par

Word Origin for premium

C17: from Latin praemium prize, booty, reward

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with premium

premium

see at a premium; put a premium on.