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

Cookie Finance supports everything from filing your taxes and organizing your books to setting up your LLC and payroll. —Kristen Bousquet, Forbes.com, 18 May 2025

The goal is to put you in nature Thunderstorms are on the way to CT: What National Weather Service is predicting More than 200 people on a CT city payroll earn more than $100K a year. —Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2025

Now, Shapiro and Atkins have the trust of ownership to run a consistent top-10 payroll, even sitting fifth as of Opening Day this year. —Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 16 May 2025

In several of the agencies and programs that DOGE targeted, the apparent goal was simply to slash the payroll, which doesn’t necessarily render an agency more efficient. —James Cramer, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 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