honorarium
UK: ˌɒnəˈrɛːrɪəm | US: ˌɑːnəˈrɛriəm
n. a payment given for professional services that are nominally voluntary or honorary.
Derived from Latin honorarium, originally meaning "a voluntary gift offered as a mark of respect." The root honor (from Latin honos/honor, meaning "esteem, dignity") reflects the concept of payment as a token of appreciation rather than a contractual obligation. The suffix -arium (Latin for "pertaining to") transforms the abstract idea of honor into a tangible reward. Historically, it distinguished payments for services (e.g., legal or academic) considered too dignified for fixed wages.
The speaker received a modest honorarium for her lecture at the university.
Board members are often paid an honorarium rather than a salary.
The artist declined the honorarium, donating her time to the charity event.
Honorariums for guest professors vary depending on the institution.
His honorarium was accompanied by a handwritten note of gratitude.