A wage is the money paid regularly to a worker, usually by the hour or week; to wage something (like war) is to carry it on or conduct it.
Noun and verb from Old North French “wage” or “gage,” meaning “pledge, payment,” from Frankish or Germanic roots meaning “to pledge.” The sense of pay grew from the idea of a promised or guaranteed amount.
The phrase “wage war” uses the same word as your paycheck, hinting that war itself is a costly, ongoing effort. Minimum wage debates are really arguments about what society thinks a basic hour of human time is worth.
The term 'wage' is central to discussions of the gender pay gap, where women—especially women of color—have historically been paid less than men for comparable work. Wage structures have often reflected gendered assumptions about 'breadwinners' and 'secondary earners.'
When discussing wages, be explicit about disparities across gender and other axes, and avoid implying that lower wages for some groups are natural or expected.
["pay","salary","earnings","compensation"]
Recognize the role of women workers and labor organizers in campaigns for fair wages, pay equity, and recognition of unpaid labor.
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