late fee

NOUN

[/leɪt fiː/]

an additional charge imposed for paying a bill or returning something after the due date

💡 Concept

He forgot the deadline and now has to pay a hefty late fee at the library counter.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/leɪt fiː/

🇬🇧 UK/leɪt fiː/

🌳Etymology

Rootlate + fee

Origin

Late derives from Old English læt, meaning 'slow' or 'tardy.' Fee comes from Old French feu, originally meaning 'fief' or 'feudal land,' which evolved to denote a payment or charge. The compound late fee emerged in modern English to describe a penalty charge imposed for overdue payment.

Breakdown

late (Old English læt, 'slow; tardy') + fee (Old French feu, 'fief; payment'). The combination creates a noun phrase denoting a monetary penalty assessed when a payment is made after the due date.

🎵Rhyme

debate feecreate spreerelate key

debate fee

create spree

relate key

🔗Collocations

pay a late fee

incur late fees

waive the late fee

hefty late fee

avoid late fees

late fee policy

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“Netflix started charging a late fee when my roommate forgot to pay for three months straight.”

😄 Fun example

“The university's late fee for tuition payment is so expensive, you could buy a small car with it.”

“Banks often impose late fees on credit card payments that arrive after the due date.”

“She set up automatic payments to avoid any late fees on her monthly bills.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

penalty chargeoverdue feelate payment chargedelinquency fee

Antonyms

early payment discounton-time payment

interest ratepenaltyoverduepayment deadlinefine

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late fee — an additional charge imposed for paying a bill or returning something after the due date

Example Sentences