Word
fee
US/ˈfi/
UK/fˈiː/
Definitions
01professional service
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. the money you pay to a professional, like a doctor or lawyer, for their work.
n. a fixed charge for professional services or advice.
“The lawyer charged a high fee for representing the company in court.”
“Consultants typically require a substantial upfront fee before they begin the initial assessment of a client's business strategy.”
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'charge', 'pay', or 'waive'.
02administrative charge
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. an amount of money you pay for a privilege or to use a service.
n. a sum paid for a specific privilege, admission, or administrative processing.
“You have to pay an entrance fee to visit the national park.”
“The university application fee is non-refundable, regardless of whether the candidate is eventually offered a place on the course.”
03land ownership
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Law Technical · Formal
n. a legal right to own land that can be passed down to family members.
n. an inheritable estate in land, held either absolutely or with specific limitations.
“The family held the land in fee simple for over three hundred years.”
“The property was held in fee tail, meaning it could only be inherited by the direct male descendants of the original owner.”
Teaching tip
This sense is highly technical and rarely encountered outside of property law or historical studies.
04to pay for service
C2 · Proficiency Formal · Archaic
v. to pay someone a fee for their work.
v. to pay a fee to a professional or to hire someone for a specific task.
“The merchant decided to fee a local guide to lead them through the mountains.”
“In the past, it was common practice to fee a barrister well in advance of the actual trial date.”
Usage
This verb form is rare in modern English; 'hire' or 'pay' is usually preferred.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “fee” in context.
Verb
01. charge a fee
“The bank will charge a fee if you withdraw money from a foreign ATM.”
verb + noun
02. pay a fee
“You have to pay a small fee to enter the national park.”
verb + noun
03. waive the fee
“The university agreed to waive the application fee for students from low-income families.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. annual fee
“Most premium credit cards require you to pay a substantial annual fee.”
adj + noun
05. exorbitant fee
“The consultant charged an exorbitant fee for just two hours of work.”
adj + noun
06. hidden fees
“Always read the fine print to ensure there are no hidden fees in the contract.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. tuition fees
“Many students take out loans to cover their university tuition fees.”
noun + noun
08. membership fee
“The monthly membership fee includes full access to the gym and the swimming pool.”
noun + noun
Preposition
09. for a fee
“The gallery offers private guided tours for a fee of twenty dollars.”
prep + noun
10. fee paid
Real-World Examples
“They replaced the previous per-appearance rates with a flat fee of €520 per case.” “In 1806, only six out of the 39 graduating students at Dartmouth College had paid their fees in full.” Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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