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

At Tricon Energy, payroll payments were a global challenge. —Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Qualifying for Europe’s elite competition will add to United’s payroll overheads, but the extra income from playing in it will more than offset that. —Andy Mitten, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026

In 2025, 2,862 state employees were paid $100,000 or more a year, out of more than 73,000 people on the state payroll. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2026

It’s being said Texas — a university, mind you — will have a $40 million NIL payroll, which means this is Steve Sarkisian’s last stand. —Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026

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