1 emolument | Definition of emolument
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

emolument

noun
emol·​u·​ment | \ i-ˈmäl-yÉ™-mÉ™nt How to pronounce emolument (audio) \

Definition of emolument

1 : the returns arising from office or employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites
2 archaic : advantage
Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about emolument

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms for emolument

Synonyms

hire, packet [British], pay, pay envelope, paycheck, payment, salary, stipend, wage

Visit the Thesaurus for More 

Did You Know?

To Sir Thomas Williams Person of the Parish ... of Saint Andrew at Baynards Castle in London for his yearly pension 40 shillings ... in recompense of certain offerings, oblations, and emoluments unto the said benefice due.... Thus was recorded in "The Wardrobe Accounts of Edward the Fourth," along with every expense of the realm, the first ever known use of "emolument." By the year 1480, when that entry was made, Latin emolumentum had come to mean simply "profit" or "gain"; it had become removed from its own Latin predecessor, the verb molere, meaning "to grind." The original connection between the noun and this verb was its reference to the profit or gain from grinding another's grain. (The notion of grinding away at our jobs didn't show up in our language until the 1800s.)

Examples of emolument in a Sentence

the annual emolument for the director of the charity is officially only one dollar

Recent Examples on the Web

 The emoluments clause has come up repeatedly since Trump took office. — Los Angeles Times, "Column: Founding Fathers would be appalled by Trump’s plan to host G-7, historians say," 27 Aug. 2019 Trump’s pitch comes as several lawsuits accusing the president of violating the U.S. Constitution’s emoluments clause, which bans gifts from foreign governments, wind their way through the courts. — Bernard Condon, chicagotribune.com, "Trump wants to hold G-7 Summit at the Doral golf resort he owns: ‘It’s ethics violation squared’," 27 Aug. 2019 The president's pitch comes as several lawsuits accusing the president of violating the U.S. Constitution's emoluments clause, which bans gifts from foreign governments, wind their way through the courts. — CBS News, "Ethics experts balk at Trump's proposal to host next G-7 on his property," 27 Aug. 2019 The Trump Organization has donated profit from foreign governments to the U.S. Treasury, part of a bid to counter criticism that Trump may be violating the U.S. Constitution’s emoluments clauses by accepting payments from foreign governments. — Josh Wingrove, Fortune, "Trump Pitches Luxury Miami Property for Next G-7: His Own," 26 Aug. 2019 The Trump Organization has donated profit from foreign governments to the U.S. Treasury, part of a bid to counter criticism that Trump may be violating the U.S. Constitution’s emoluments clauses by accepting payments from foreign governments. — Time, "'Each Country Can Have Their Own Villa.' Trump Suggests Hosting 2020 G-7 Summit at His Miami Golf Resort," 26 Aug. 2019 Some of Trump’s actions are crimes, including emoluments, obstruction of justice, and campaign finance violations. — Seth Moulton, Fortune, "Seth Moulton: Mueller Showed Us Why House Leadership Is Failing on Impeachment," 30 July 2019 Ditto the entire failure of the destroy-Trump agenda, whether exemplified by the Mueller exoneration and the absurd appeals to the Logan Act, the emoluments clause and 25th Amendment. — Victor Davis Hanson, National Review, "The Economy, Father of Us All," 23 July 2019 This was the second time Justice lawyers have petitioned a higher court to take up a case dealing with the emoluments clause, which bans government officials from accepting foreign gifts and money without Congress’ permission. — Washington Post, "Panel orders federal judge to reconsider Trump appeal," 19 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'emolument.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of emolument

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for emolument

Middle English, from Latin emolumentum advantage, from emolere to produce by grinding, from e- + molere to grind — more at meal

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for emolument

emolument

noun
emol·​u·​ment | \ i-ˈmäl-yÉ™-mÉ™nt How to pronounce emolument (audio) \

Legal Definition of emolument

: a return arising from office or employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites the President shall, at stated times, receive for his services, a compensation…and he shall not receive within that period any other emolument — U.S. Constitution art. II

More from Merriam-Webster on emolument

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for emolument

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!