payable

adjective

pay·​able ˈpā-ə-bəl 

1

: that may, can, or must be paid

2

: profitable

Synonyms of payable

• unpaid
• outstanding

Examples of payable in a Sentence

She charges her patients $3,000, payable in installments.

keep the bills payable separate from the receipts

Recent Examples on the Web

Since publication of the New’s initial story, the NYC Transit has instituted a requirement that work orders without payable hours have a note explaining why. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026

At that time, 78% of those benefits would be payable, unless Congress comes up with a solution. — Lorie Konish, CNBC, 16 Aug. 2026

In other rulings, the IRS has allowed a similar result when an IRA was payable to an estate and the surviving spouse was the sole primary beneficiary of the estate. — Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Shortly after, the Mountain Recreation and Conservation Authority imposed a $3 parking fee, payable only in cash, to fund park maintenance. — Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing payable

• account payable

Rhymes for payable

• playable
• repayable

Kids Definition

payable

adjective

pay·​able ˈpā-ə-bəl 

: that may, can, or must be paid

accounts payable

Legal Definition

payable

adjective

pay·​able

: that may, can, or must be paid