emolument

noun

emol·​u·​ment i-ˈmäl-yə-mənt 

1

: the returns arising from office or employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites

2

archaic : advantage

Did you know?

The U.S. Constitution includes two emoluments clauses: the foreign emoluments clause, in Article 1, Section 9, prohibits federal officeholders from accepting gifts, payments, or other items of value from foreign states or rulers; the domestic emoluments clause, in Article 2, Section 1, prohibits the president from receiving any compensation from the federal government or from any state beyond what Section 1 outlines for compensation for service as the nation’s chief executive. Like most technical legal terms, emolument is Latin in origin, but chew on this: its Latin predecessor meant simply “advantage,” but that word’s source is emolere, meaning “to produce by grinding,” and its relations include such toothsome words as mill and molar.

Synonyms

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

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 hotel has since been sold and the Supreme Court refused to rule on an emoluments violation after Trump had left office, citing that the issue was moot. —Bernard Condon, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025

This could lead to a surge in emoluments violations, as government officials use their positions for personal gain. —Steven Delco, Hartford Courant, 10 July 2024

The proposal led by Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Richard Blumenthal would enforce the Constitution’s ban on emoluments, which prohibits the president from accepting foreign gifts and money without Congress’ permission. —Farnoush Amiri, Twin Cities, 21 May 2024

It was never established what constituted an emoluments violation and what would be the remedy. —Sharon Lafraniere, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

emolument

noun

emol·​u·​ment i-ˈmäl-yə-mənt 

: profit from one's job or from an office held : salary, wages

Legal Definition

emolument

noun

emol·​u·​ment i-ˈmäl-yə-mənt 

: 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