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token payment

token payment

1 4.0
A very small amount of money given to show you will pay later or to keep an agreement
  • noun
  • /ˈtoʊkən ˈpeɪmənt/
translation icon : pago simbólico
  • Would he follow Bloomberg, the Mayor of New York, and waive his entitlement to the president's salary and accept a token payment of one dollar?

Examples

  • This here ranch is token payment to your disgusting exploitations.

  • The workers were given a token payment at the end of the project as a gesture of thanks.

  • In recognition of her contributions, the volunteers offered her a token payment to show their appreciation.

  • As part of the agreement, he received a token payment to confirm his participation.

Synonyms

tip
vstoken payment
185 1.0

A small amount of money given for a service

is symbolic and not mainly a reward for direct service
payment
vstoken payment
51 1.0

Something done or given to return help and make up for harm

is a very small symbolic amount rather than full recompense
honorarium
vstoken payment
  • Formal
3 8.7

A small payment given for a talk or other service when no set fee exists

is smaller and mainly symbolic given to acknowledge an obligation

Antonyms

394 5.0

Large in amount, size, or importance

How Much

deposit
235 3.3
small fee
9 1.0
token payment
1 4.0

Surface Forms

token payment singular

Morphology

token + payment

The meaning 'a very small or symbolic amount of money' is directly derivable from combining 'token' (symbolic/nominal) with 'payment' (money given). This adjective+noun composition is regular and transparent, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent meanings can infer the MWE's sense.

Etymology

Token payment comes from the idea of a token as a small coin or object that stands for something bigger. Giving a tiny payment was a way to show you meant to pay more later, so the phrase now means a very small, 'symbolic' amount.