Revised 2007
Factsheet
What does the word premium mean?
There are nine meanings listed in OED's entry for the word premium. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
premium has developed meanings and uses in subjects including
insurance (mid 1600s) finance (mid 1600s) economics and commerce (mid 1700s) stock market (1860s)
How common is the word premium?
About 10occurrences per million words in modern written English
See frequency
How is the word premium pronounced?
British English
/ˈpriːmiəm/
PREE-mee-uhm
U.S. English
/ˈprimiəm/
PREE-mee-uhm
See pronunciation
Where does the word premium come from?
Earliest known use
early 1600s
The earliest known use of the word premium is in the early 1600s.
OED's earliest evidence for premium is from 1601, in the writing of Anthony Copley, writer and conspirator.
premium is a borrowing from Latin.
Etymons: Latin praemium.
See etymology
Nearby entries
- premiour, n.1493
- premious, adj.1676
- premisal, n.a1651–
- premise, n.a1398–
- premise, v.c1450–
- premised, adj.?c1525–
- premisory, adj.1844–
- premission, n.a1500–1897
- premit, v.?c1425–1784
- premitted, adj.1639–62
- premium, n. & adj.1601–
- premium apprentice, n.1871–
- premium bond, n.1820–
- premium bonus system, n.1902–
- premium boy, n.1905–
- premiumed, adj.1799–
- premiumless, adj.1796–
- premium rate, n.1946–
- premium system, n.1845–
- 1932–
- premix, v.1917–
Browse more nearby entries
Etymology
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