payroll

noun

pay·​roll ˈpā-ˌrōl 

1

: a paymaster's or employer's list of those entitled to pay and of the amounts due to each

2

: the sum necessary for distribution to those on a payroll

also : the money to be distributed

Examples of payroll in a Sentence

They cut him from their payroll.

He's the manager of a baseball team with a $50 million payroll.

Businesses are keeping their payrolls low by embracing new technologies.

Recent Examples on the Web

Despite entering this season with baseball’s second-highest payroll, neck and neck with the New York Mets, the Dodgers also have one of the best farm systems in MLB. —Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 23 Oct. 2025

And the Fed might have even less access to private employment data this time around, after payroll software provider ADP ended its data-sharing agreement with the Fed in August, according to The American Prospect. —Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025

During the shutdown, essential employees who are still working should continue to document their hours in accordance with special instructions from their agency's payroll provider, according to OPM. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025

The Milwaukee Brewers surprised many in baseball by recording the best record of the regular season this year despite playing with a relatively modest payroll and relatively few marquee players. —Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1740, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing payroll

• payroll deduction
• payroll tax

Rhymes for payroll

• bankroll
• bedroll
• borehole
• cajole
• catchpole
• charcoal
• condole
• control
• dipole
• downhole
• enroll
• extol

Kids Definition

payroll

noun

pay·​roll ˈpā-ˌrōl 

1

: a list of persons entitled to receive pay with the amounts due to each

2

: the amount of money necessary to pay those on a payroll