nonmonetary

IPA/ˌnɒnˈmʌn.ɪ.tər.i/
IPA/ˌnɑːnˈmɑːn.ɪ.ter.i/

nonmonetary — adjective

  • nonmonetarypositive
  • more nonmonetarycomparative
  • most nonmonetarysuperlative

1. describing something whose value, form, or effect is not given in cash or anothe

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

describing something whose value, form, or effect is not given in cash or another payment amount

Example

The museum thanked donors with nonmonetary gifts such as books and posters.

collocation: nonmonetary gifts

Joaquin accepted the role for nonmonetary reasons, mainly pride and public service.

for nonmonetary reasons

Common collocations
  • nonmonetary reward
  • nonmonetary benefit
  • nonmonetary support
  • nonmonetary value
  • nonmonetary exchange
Synonyms
  • nonfinancial

    broader; often covers goals, information, or concerns outside money

  • in-kind

    narrower; specifically for goods or services given instead of cash

Antonyms
  • monetary

    relating to money or measured in money

  • financial

    about money, funding, or the management of funds

Grammar Patterns

nonmonetary + reward / benefit / support / exchange

Usage Note

Usually comes before nouns such as reward, benefit, support, value, or exchange. It is common in business, legal, and charity writing when the contrast with cash matters.

Common Mistakes

The staff received monetary rewards like free childcare.
The staff received nonmonetary rewards like free childcare.
free childcare is a benefit in kind, not a cash payment.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Nonmonetary is the broad label for something whose value does not come as cash. It works well for rewards, support, damages, and exchanges when the key point is that money is not the form used. Nonfinancial is wider and often describes goals, concerns, or information outside profit, budgets, or accounting. In-kind is narrower than both and usually means actual goods or services provided instead of payment. A school lunch program can be nonmonetary support, a charity report may track nonfinancial outcomes, and donated food is an in-kind contribution. Choosing among them depends on whether you want to stress the absence of cash, the absence of finance, or the presence of goods and services.

nonmonetary ↗nonfinancial ↗in-kind ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • nonmonetary compensation
  • nonmonetary damages
  • nonmonetary incentive

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Built in English from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the adjective 'monetary'. Monetary came through French from Latin roots linked to coined money and minting. The full word therefore marks something as outside payment in money.

First known use

1889

1889, in the meaning defined above