remunerate

American  

[ri-myoo-nuh-reyt] / rɪˈmyu nəˌreɪt /

verb (used with object)

remunerated, remunerating

1. to pay, recompense, or reward for work, trouble, etc.

   Synonyms:

   compensate, requite, reimburse

2. to yield a recompense for (work, services, etc.).

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remunerate British  

/ rɪˈmjuːnəˌreɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to reward or pay for work, service, etc

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Other Word Forms

• preremunerate
  verb (used with object)
• remunerability
  noun
• remunerable
  adjective
• remunerably
  adverb
• remunerator
  noun
• unremunerated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of remunerate

First recorded in 1515–25; from Latin remūnerātus “repaid,” past participle of remūnerāri “to repay, reward,” from re- re- + mūnerāre “to give, bestow” (verb derivative of mūner-, stem of mūnus “gift, duty”)

Explanation

If I owe you money, then I need to remunerate you. To remunerate is to pay money that is owed. It's nice to be remunerated — that means someone paid you money that was owed. If an employer makes you work overtime, they will need to remunerate you for that. If you lost your dog, offered a reward, and then someone found the dog, that person should be remunerated. When you see remunerate, think "giving someone money they deserve."

Example Sentences

Remunerate, rē-mū′nė-rāt, v.t. to render an equivalent for any service: to recompense.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various