fee
- 01 B1 Intermediate
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.
Simple“The lawyer charged a high fee for representing the company in court.”
In context“Consultants typically require a substantial upfront fee before they begin the initial assessment of a client's business strategy.”
UsageOften used with the verbs 'charge', 'pay', or 'waive'.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
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.
Simple“You have to pay an entrance fee to visit the national park.”
In context“The university application fee is non-refundable, regardless of whether the candidate is eventually offered a place on the course.”
- 03 C2 Proficiency
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.
Simple“The family held the land in fee simple for over three hundred years.”
In context“The property was held in fee tail, meaning it could only be inherited by the direct male descendants of the original owner.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is highly technical and rarely encountered outside of property law or historical studies.
- 04 C2 Proficiency
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.
Simple“The merchant decided to fee a local guide to lead them through the mountains.”
In context“In the past, it was common practice to fee a barrister well in advance of the actual trial date.”
UsageThis verb form is rare in modern English; 'hire' or 'pay' is usually preferred.
Usage fee paid
“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.”