payment

noun

pay·​ment ˈpā-mənt 

1

: the act of paying

2

: something that is paid : pay

3

: requital

Synonyms

• 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

If the winner chooses the annuity, their average annual payment would drop from more than $20 million down to $12.7 million after applying taxes. —Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2025

From there, the scammer offers exclusive perks, VIP access, autographed gear, and even romantic promises in exchange for untraceable payments via cryptocurrency or gift cards. —Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025

Appeals Judge Robert Altice wrote prosecutors filed the day after sentencing to add the $5,000 payment. —Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025

When the payments never materialized, victims often contacted Kingston and Turner to no avail. —David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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