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

Cost is $42, payable via check or cash at check-in. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026

There is a parking fee, payable only by cash or debit card at meters. —Eve Chen, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2026

An all-day pass is $12, payable to the ranger at the gate or via the machine in the parking lot. —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026

Savannah Guthrie announced on Instagram that the family is offering a reward of up to $1 million, payable only for her mother's recovery. —Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 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