payment

noun

pay·​ment ˈpā-mənt 

1

: the act of paying

2

: something that is paid : pay

3

: requital

Synonyms of payment

• paying

Examples of payment in a Sentence

Payment is due on the first of every month.

Prompt payment of your bill ensures that you will not have to pay any additional fees.

We require payment in advance for all goods purchased.

a payment plan to reduce your debt

cash, credit cards, and other methods of payment

Our records show that we received a payment of $215.36 in May.

Buy this product for three easy payments of only $19.95!

It took me five years to pay off the car, but I never missed a payment.

making payments on a loan

The credit card company just increased the penalty on late payments.

Recent Examples on the Web

A lot more is at stake than that payment, with the city projecting the permanent casino complex to generate $200 million in annual local tax revenue. — Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026

The state can provide live parking information, retain optional reservations for visitors who want certainty, reserve substantial capacity for walk-up admission, release unused reservations promptly and allow payment at the gate. — Jeffrey T. Donner, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026

The September 2026 Supplemental Security Income payments, worth up to $994, will be sent to recipients in 23 days. — Emily Robertson, The Washington Examiner, 9 Aug. 2026

FreshBooks and Grasshopper also announced a partnership to streamline small business cash flow, integrating invoicing, payments, and banking. — Gene Marks, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing payment

• balloon payment
• co-payment
• down payment
• in payment
• on payment of
• stop payment
• transfer payment

Rhymes for payment

• claimant
• copayment
• embayment
• nonpayment
• prepayment
• repayment
• overpayment
• underpayment

Kids Definition

payment

noun

pay·​ment ˈpā-mənt 

1

: the act of paying

2

: money given to pay a debt

3

: pay entry 2 sense 2