Dues vs. Fee — What's the Difference?

Payable immediately or on demand.

A fee is the price one pays as remuneration for rights or services. Fees usually allow for overhead, wages, costs, and markup.

Owed as a debt; owing

A fixed sum charged, as by an institution or by law, for a privilege

In accord with right, convention, or courtesy; appropriate

A charge for professional services

Meeting special requirements; sufficient

A tip; a gratuity.

Expected or scheduled, especially appointed to arrive

(Law) See fee simple.

Expected to give birth.

In feudal law, an estate in land granted by a lord to his vassal on condition of homage and service. Also called feud2, fief.

Anticipated; looked for

The land so held.

Expecting or ready for something as part of a normal course or sequence

To give a tip to.

Entitled to

(Scots) To hire.

Capable of being attributed. See Usage Note at due to.

(feudal law) A right to the use of a superior's land, as a stipend for services to be performed; also, the land so held; a fief.

Something owed or deserved

(legal) An inheritable estate in land held of a feudal lord on condition of the performing of certain services.

Dues A charge or fee for membership, as in a club or organization.

(legal) An estate of inheritance in land, either absolute and without limitation to any particular class of heirs (fee simple) or limited to a particular class of heirs (fee tail).

Straight; directly

(obsolete) Property; owndom; estate.

(Archaic) Duly.

(obsolete) Money paid or bestowed; payment; emolument.

Plural of due

(obsolete) A prize or reward. Only used in the set phrase "A finder's fee" in Modern English.

Membership fees.

An additional monetary payment charged for a service or good that is minor compared to the underlying cost.

To reward for services performed, or to be performed; to recompense; to hire or keep in hire; hence, to bribe.

Property; possession; tenure.

Reward or compensation for services rendered or to be rendered; especially, payment for professional services, of optional amount, or fixed by custom or laws; charge; pay; perquisite; as, the fees of lawyers and physicians; the fees of office; clerk's fees; sheriff's fees; marriage fees, etc.

A right to the use of a superior's land, as a stipend for services to be performed; also, the land so held; a fief.

An estate of inheritance supposed to be held either mediately or immediately from the sovereign, and absolutely vested in the owner.

An estate of inheritance belonging to the owner, and transmissible to his heirs, absolutely and simply, without condition attached to the tenure.

To reward for services performed, or to be performed; to recompense; to hire or keep in hire; hence, to bribe.

A fixed charge for a privilege or for professional services

An interest in land capable of being inherited

Give a tip or gratuity to in return for a service, beyond the agreed-on compensation;