Is 'emolument' just a fancy word for salary?

It is broader. While it can mean salary, it often refers to the total compensation package, including fees, profits, and perquisites attached to an official position.

Why did I suddenly hear this word in the news?

It gained prominence in American political discourse due to the Foreign Emoluments Clause (Article I, Section 9) of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits federal officials from accepting gifts or payments from foreign states without Congressional consent.

Can I use 'emolument' in everyday English?

It is not recommended. Using it in casual conversation would sound extremely formal, archaic, or pretentious. Use 'salary', 'pay', or 'compensation' instead.

What is the etymology of 'emolument'?

It comes from Latin 'emolumentum', meaning 'profit, gain', which likely derived from 'emolere', meaning 'to grind out' (as in grinding grain to produce flour, hence producing profit).

emolument

UK/ɪˈmɒljʊm(ə)nt/US/ɪˈmɑːljəmənt/

Formal, Legal, Archaic

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

A salary, fee, or profit from employment or office.

Any form of compensation, advantage, or benefit, often monetary, received as a result of holding a position or performing a service. Historically, it could refer to perquisites or allowances beyond a basic salary.

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

The term is highly formal and is most commonly encountered in legal, constitutional, or historical contexts. It often implies compensation attached to an official position. It is rarely used in casual conversation.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally formal and rare in both varieties.

Connotations

In both, it carries connotations of officialdom, legal entitlement, and sometimes archaic language. In US political discourse, it gained renewed attention due to the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the US Constitution.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in both. Slightly higher visibility in American English due to recent constitutional debates.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

financial emolumentofficial emolumentconstitutional emolumentattach an emolumentreceive an emolument

medium

modest emolumentannual emolumentemolument of officeforbidden emolument

weak

large emolumentsmall emolumentadditional emolument

Grammar

Valency Patterns

receive an emolument (from)the emoluments attached to the postwithout emolumentin consideration of emoluments

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

perquisite (perk)stipendhonorarium

Neutral

compensationremunerationsalary

Weak

paymentfeewagebenefit

Vocabulary

Antonyms

volunteer workpro bono serviceunpaid position

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“Not applicable for this formal term.”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Rare. Might appear in formal contracts or descriptions of executive compensation packages.

Academic

Used in historical, legal, and political science texts discussing official salaries or constitutional law.

Everyday

Virtually never used.

Technical

Core term in legal documents and constitutional law, specifically regarding clauses prohibiting certain officials from accepting foreign emoluments.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

Not applicable. No standard verb form.

American English

Not applicable. No standard verb form.

adverb

British English

Not applicable.

American English

Not applicable.

adjective

British English

Not applicable. The related adjective is 'emolumental', but it is obsolete.

American English

Not applicable. The related adjective is 'emolumental', but it is obsolete.

Examples

By CEFR Level

Not applicable for this C2-level word.

Not applicable for this C2-level word.

The position offers a modest salary and certain other emoluments.
Historically, the clergy received emoluments from the land.

The contract detailed all emoluments attached to the directorship, including a car allowance and health insurance.
Debate centred on whether the gift constituted a forbidden foreign emolument under the constitution.
Beyond his basic wage, his total emoluments were significantly enhanced by performance bonuses.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'e-MONEY-lument' – it's about money (lucre) you get from employment.

Conceptual Metaphor

COMPENSATION IS A (LEGAL) ATTACHMENT (emoluments are 'attached to' a post).

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Не путать с 'эмоцией' (emotion).
Ближе к 'вознаграждение', 'жалование', 'довольствие' (официальное), а не просто 'зарплата'.
В конституционном контексте — 'эмолумент' как термин (Foreign Emoluments Clause).

Common Mistakes

Using it in informal contexts.
Misspelling as 'emolument' (missing 'e').
Pronouncing it /ˈeməluːmənt/ (stress on first syllable). Correct stress is on the second syllable.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The judge was careful not to accept any from parties involved in the case, to avoid a conflict of interest.

Multiple Choice

In which context is the word 'emolument' MOST likely to be used correctly?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: It is broader. While it can mean salary, it often refers to the total compensation package, including fees, profits, and perquisites attached to an official position.
: It gained prominence in American political discourse due to the Foreign Emoluments Clause (Article I, Section 9) of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits federal officials from accepting gifts or payments from foreign states without Congressional consent.
: It is not recommended. Using it in casual conversation would sound extremely formal, archaic, or pretentious. Use 'salary', 'pay', or 'compensation' instead.
: It comes from Latin 'emolumentum', meaning 'profit, gain', which likely derived from 'emolere', meaning 'to grind out' (as in grinding grain to produce flour, hence producing profit).