fee

UK: /ˈfiː/ US: /fi/ ,(fē)

Inflections of 'fee' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

fees

v 3rd person singular

feeing

v pres p

feed

v past

feed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

fee /fi/   n. [countable]

1. a sum charged or paid, as for professional services:
   a doctor's fee.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

fee  (fē), n., v., feed, fee•ing. 
n. 

1. a charge or payment for professional services:
   a doctor's fee.
2. a sum paid or charged for a privilege:
   an admission fee.
3. a charge allowed by law for the service of a public officer.
4. Law, World History
   • an estate of inheritance in land, either absolute and without limitation to any particular class of heirs (fee simple) or limited to a particular class of heirs (fee tail.)
   • an inheritable estate in land held of a feudal lord on condition of the performing of certain services.
   • a territory held in fee.
5. a gratuity;
   tip.

v.t. 

6. Law to give a fee to.
7. Scottish Terms [Chiefly Scot.] to hire;
   employ.

• Anglo-French; Old French fie, variant of fief fief. See feudal
• Middle English 1250–1300

fee′less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. stipend, salary, emolument; honorarium.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

fee / fiː/ noun

1. a payment asked by professional people or public servants for their services: a doctor's fee, school fees
2. a charge made for a privilege: an entrance fee
3. an interest in land capable of being inherited
4. (in feudal Europe) the land granted by a lord to his vassal
5. an obsolete word for a gratuity
6. in fee ⇒ (of land) in absolute ownership

verb (fees, feeing, feed)

1. to give a fee to
2. to hire for a fee

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French fie, of Germanic origin; see fief