Definition

A level in a system that determines how much a person is paid, often based on their job responsibilities and experience.

Example

Employees are classified into different paygrades based on their roles and performance.

Conversation

Have you ever thought about our paygrade at work?

Yeah, it's interesting how some people earn so much more for the same job.

I feel like we should all be on the same paygrade for our efforts.

Absolutely! It would make things a lot fairer around here.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Paygrade → It is formed from "pay" (from Old French *paier*, meaning to pay or to satisfy) and "grade" (from Latin *gradus*, meaning step or degree). The word "paygrade" refers to a level or step in a system that determines the amount of pay someone receives.

Memory Tip

Think of 'pay' as the amount you receive and 'grade' as a level or step — together, they help you remember that a paygrade is a level of payment.

Visually Confused Words