Pecuniary

Pecuniary is an adjective meaning relating to money or financial matters. It is used to describe monetary value, costs, obligations, or interests and is common in legal, economic, and financial writings.

The term derives from the Latin pecuniarius, based on pecunia, meaning money. Historically wealth was measured in cattle, and the word evolved to denote money and monetary affairs. In English, pecuniary has retained a specialized sense tied to financial value and obligations.

In legal usage, pecuniary damages refer to losses that can be quantified in money, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and property repair costs. Non-pecuniary damages cover intangible harms like pain and suffering or loss of enjoyment of life. Pecuniary obligations are duties that involve money, such as debt or interest payments, whereas non-pecuniary obligations involve non-monetary duties.

Beyond law, pecuniary matters appear in accounting and economics to describe financial transactions, resources, and concerns. The term may appear in phrases such as pecuniary interests (a financial stake) and pecuniary resources (monetary resources), distinguishing them from non-monetary or non-financial aspects.

See also monetary, financial, and economic terms, and the concept of damages in law, where pecuniary and non-pecuniary classifications are commonly contrasted.