Perquisites

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Additional benefits or privileges granted to employees | Entitlements or bonuses beyond a regular salary that enhance compensation | Special perks or advantages received in addition to standard pay which offer extra value
2. Additional advantages or perks received by employees apart from their primary compensation package
3. Supplemental benefits that enhance financial reward, often beyond wages, typically enjoyed by certain job positions

Etymology: The term originated from the Latin verb "perquirere," meaning "to search for thoroughly," which evolved into the Late Latin noun "perquisitum," referring to something acquired or gained in addition to the main object. By the time the word entered English in the early 17th century, it had taken on the sense of additional gains or profits that one obtains beyond their regular income or entitlement. Initially, the word was often used in legal or financial contexts to describe incidental benefits, such as fees, privileges, or profits derived from an office or employment. These might include things like a servant’s right to keep tips or a landlord’s entitlement to certain produce from tenant lands. Over time, the meaning broadened to encompass any extra benefit, especially those attached to a particular position or job. The plural form became more common in usage, emphasizing the variety of these extra advantages. Unlike mere salary or wages, these perks were often seen as informal or customary rewards, sometimes even expected, rather than formally stipulated. This usage set it apart from simple "benefits," highlighting a more traditional or residual nature of such gains. Today, the word retains this core meaning of supplementary benefits or privileges, though it is often considered somewhat formal or old-fashioned compared to more modern terms like "perks." The journey from a Latin verb about searching to a noun describing additional gains reveals the semantic leap from effort or inquiry to the rewards uncovered or acquired through such pursuit.

Synonyms: benefits, privileges, extras, bonuses, fringe benefits