stipendiary

Stipendiary is an adjective meaning paid by a stipend, or receiving a fixed regular salary provided by an organization or government. The noun form can refer to a person who receives such a stipend. The word comes from the Latin stipendium, meaning a payment or reward.

In legal contexts, stipendiary has been used to describe professional, salaried officials who sit as magistrates or judges. Historically, stipendiary magistrates were contrasted with lay or non-stipendiary magistrates, who were unpaid volunteers. In many jurisdictions, the role of stipendiary magistrates was introduced to provide stronger professionalization and continuity, while non-stipendiary (or lay) magistrates depended on voluntary service. Over time, some systems restructured these offices, and the precise use of the term has varied by country and era. Today, the phrase is less common in some regions and may be used mainly in historical or formal contexts.

In ecclesiastical contexts, stipendiary can describe clergy who receive a stipend or salary from a church or diocese, as opposed to self-supporting clergy or those funded by voluntary contributions. In the Anglican tradition and related churches, a stipendiary priest or minister is typically paid by the church while non-stipendiary clergy rely on other sources of funding or part-time arrangements.

More broadly, stipendiary can apply to any position funded by a stipend rather than by fees for services or by personal wealth. In contemporary usage, the term often retains formal or historical connotations, particularly in legal or religious discussions.