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

Some high earners may see more payroll taxes withheld in 2026 as a result of the higher wage base. —Lorie Konish, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025

The Los Angeles Dodgers have gotten a lot of the attention during this World Series—a combination of the team’s huge payroll, large valuation and the global stardom of Shohei Ohtani. —Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 30 Oct. 2025

The county expanded hiring by nearly 3,000 people across the government since 2020 during a period of single-digit population growth — expansion that amounts to an average of about 2% per year for a government with a payroll now at about 31,000 positions. —Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025

Shutdown leaves military families in limbo Relative to that amount, Mellon's gift would have covered payroll for less than seven hours. —Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 30 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