Reading Theme:
Fee Meaning, Examples & Usage Guide (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：payment for a service (fee)
fee
/fiː/
n.
Money you pay for a specific service, right, or permission.
payment for a service
➕
/ˈpeɪmənt fɔːr ə ˈsɜːrvɪs/
n.
A fixed amount of money paid to obtain a specific service, right, or permission from an organization or authority.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Old English 'feoh' (cattle, property), later meaning payment.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of 'fee' as 'F' for 'financial' + 'ee' like 'see' — you see the money you pay.
📖 Example
The fee for the online course is very reasonable, so I signed up immediately.
The fee for the online course is very reasonable, so I signed up immediately.
🔗 Collocations
application fee – a fee charged when submitting an application
tuition fee – the fee for instruction, especially at a school or university
membership fee – a fee paid to become or remain a member of a club or organization
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
📖 Cultural Story
Originally meant 'cattle' in Old English, as cattle were a form of wealth. The sense shifted to a payment for a service in medieval times.
Meaning 2：professional charge (fee)
fee
/fiː/
n.
Money paid to a professional person for their advice or services.
professional charge
➕
/prəˈfɛʃənəl tʃɑːrdʒ/
n.
A sum of money paid to a professional person (such as a lawyer, doctor, or consultant) in exchange for their advice or services.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
My lawyer explained all the legal steps clearly before discussing her professional fee.
My lawyer explained all the legal steps clearly before discussing her professional fee.
🔗 Collocations
legal fee – the fee charged by a lawyer for legal services
consultation fee – a fee paid for a professional consultation, e.g., with a doctor or advisor
management fee – a fee paid to a manager or company for managing assets or projects
🔄 Synonyms
commission (n.) – a fee paid to an agent or salesperson for a transaction
honorarium (n.) – a voluntary payment for professional services that are usually rendered without charge
retainer (n.) – a fee paid in advance to secure a professional's services
🚫 Antonyms
complimentary (adj.) – given free of charge
gratis (adv.) – without payment; free
🌱 Derivatives
fee-based (adj.) – relying on fees as the primary source of income
Wordbook
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