token payment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumFormal, Legal, Business
Quick answer
What does “token payment” mean?
A small, symbolic payment made to acknowledge a debt or obligation without fully satisfying it.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, symbolic payment made to acknowledge a debt or obligation without fully satisfying it.
Used in legal, financial, or social contexts to indicate minimal compliance, goodwill, or recognition of a claim, often preserving rights for future claims.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Similarly connoted in both varieties as symbolic or minimal.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English due to legal traditions, but widely used in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “token payment” in a Sentence
Subject + make + a token payment + to + recipienttoken payment + for + debta token payment + of + amountVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “token payment” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He tokened his agreement with a slight nod.
American English
- She tokened her appreciation by sending a thank-you card.
adverb
British English
- He contributed tokenly to the charity drive.
American English
- She paid tokenly to acknowledge the service.
adjective
British English
- They made a token gesture to appease the critics.
American English
- A token fee was charged for the workshop.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In business, a token payment may be used to seal deals, maintain relationships, or show goodwill without significant cost.
Academic
In academic writing, token payments are studied in economics, law, and sociology as forms of symbolic exchange or incomplete contracts.
Everyday
In everyday situations, people might make token payments as contributions to gifts, donations, or to acknowledge small favors.
Technical
In legal and financial contexts, a token payment acknowledges liability or debt without discharging it, often preserving legal rights.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “token payment”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “token payment”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “token payment”
- Using 'token payment' to mean full payment or down payment.
- Assuming token payment discharges the entire debt.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be, depending on the context; often it acknowledges debt but does not discharge it, and may be part of a legal agreement.
Yes, for example, when contributing a small amount to a group gift or paying a nominal fee for a service.
A down payment is part of a larger payment plan towards a purchase, while token payment is symbolic and may not reduce the debt significantly.
As a gesture of goodwill or a strategic move to maintain relationships without committing to full financial outlay, often to keep options open.
A small, symbolic payment made to acknowledge a debt or obligation without fully satisfying it.
Token payment is usually formal, legal, business in register.
Token payment: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtəʊkən ˈpeɪmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtoʊkən ˈpeɪmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “make a token payment”
- “token gesture”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'token' like a subway token—small and symbolic—so token payment is a small symbolic pay.
Conceptual Metaphor
PAYMENT IS A SYMBOL
Practice
Quiz
What does 'token payment' typically imply?