pecuniary

[pi-kyoo-nee-er-ee] /pɪˈkyu niˌɛr i/

adjective

of or pertaining to money:

pecuniary difficulties.

consisting of or given or exacted in money or monetary payments:

pecuniary tributes.

(of a crime, violation, etc.) involving a money penalty or fine.

Origin

1495-1505; < Latin pecūniārius, derivative of pecūnia property, money (pecūn-, derivative of pecū flock (see peculiar), with -ūn- as in tribūna tribune¹, fortūna fortune, etc. + -ia -ia); see -ary

Related forms

pecuniarily

[pi-kyoo-nee-air-i-lee] /pɪˌkyu niˈɛər ɪ li/ (Show IPA), adverb

nonpecuniary, adjective

Synonyms

1, 2. See financial.

Examples from the web for pecuniary

In order to justify policy intervention, these concerns must be about externalities, either pecuniary or technological.
The student's best interests should always be given higher priority than an institution's pecuniary interests.
Perhaps they're put off by the principle of the thing, rather than the pecuniary loss.
By most reasonable standards, the pecuniary advantages of a college education are declining a bit for a majority of new workers.
Wellness also has a pecuniary logic.
If you don't pay an actual money price, you pay a non-pecuniary price - usually waiting time.
Only where there is pecuniary equality can the distinction of merit stand out.
The young man of the house was absorbed in his vegetable garden and the possibilities for pecuniary profit that it held.
Deprived of pecuniary means he poses little danger and could start a new life in which to prove his newly found convictions.
And let me be clear, by benefits I don't necessarily mean pecuniary benefits.

British Dictionary definitions for pecuniary

pecuniary

/pɪˈkjuːnɪərɪ/

adjective

consisting of or relating to money

(law) (of an offence) involving a monetary penalty

Derived Forms

pecuniarily, adverb

Word Origin

C16: from Latin pecūniāris, from pecūnia money

Word Origin and History for pecuniary

adj.

c.1500, from Latin pecuniarius "pertaining to money," from pecunia "money, property, wealth," from pecu "cattle, flock," from PIE root *peku- "wealth, movable property, livestock" (cf. Sanskrit pasu- "cattle," Gothic faihu "money, fortune," Old English feoh "cattle, money").

Livestock was the measure of wealth in the ancient world. For a possible parallel sense development in Old English, see fee, and cf., evolving in the other direction, cattle. Cf. also Welsh tlws "jewel," cognate with Irish tlus "cattle," connected via notion of "valuable thing."