The pecuniary is that linked to money.
The first necessary step that must be taken in order to understand the meaning of the pecuniary term is to establish its etymological origin. In this sense, we could determine that it derives from Latin, specifically from the word “pecuniarius”. This can be translated as “relating to cash” and is made up of two clearly delimited parts:
-The noun “pecunia”, which is equivalent to “cash money”.
-The suffix “-ary”, which is used to indicate “belonging”.
Pecuniary and money
It is an adjective that usually names what is linked to liquid money , that is, cash (immediately available banknotes and coins).
For example: “We only accept pecuniary payments: no exchange” , “I am not interested in symbolic recognition, but rather I prefer pecuniary awards that allow me to pay the bills” , “The pecuniary collaboration of neighbors is essential for development the works.”
The pecuniary, therefore, is associated with money . Suppose that the authorities of a club want to take advantage of a vacant lot to build a tennis court. Before confirming the development of the project, they analyze various issues, such as the conditions of the land and the potential use of the infrastructure. In this study, of course, one of the keys will be the financial issue (how much the works will cost).
A pecuniary penalty obliges the sanctioned party to make a payment.
An economic sanction
A pecuniary penalty , on the other hand, is a sanction that forces the punished person to pay a certain sum of money. If a person parks their vehicle in a place that is not permitted, a road inspector can impose a fine that consists of paying two hundred pesos. Said fine, therefore, is a pecuniary punishment .
This type of pecuniary penalty, it must be said, is not only one of the most common ways of punishing a person within administrative law but also has its notable presence in the field of criminal law. In the latter case, the minimum penalty that can be imposed on a convicted person is precisely the payment of a fine, compared to the harshest and maximum sentence that would be imprisonment.
Obligation, legacy and pecuniary damages
In the same way, we cannot ignore the existence of what is known as a pecuniary obligation. This is a term used to refer to the duty that one party has to deliver cash to another, as a sign of provision.
Likewise, within the scope of law there is also what is known as a pecuniary legacy. This term is used to refer, for example, to the specific amount of money that a deceased person has left to a person after his or her death and that is strictly included in his or her will.
In a similar sense, a certain action can cause pecuniary damage against a person, a company or an organization. This happens if an environmental group promotes a boycott against a company that pollutes a river with its production processes: the intention will be to cause economic problems so that it ceases its activity.