payday

noun

pay·​day ˈpā-ˌdā How to pronounce payday (audio)
: a regular day on which wages are paid

Examples of payday in a Sentence

Is this Friday a payday?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The ordinance also adds definitions in the city’s zoning code for liquor and package stores, payday loan centers, and bars, and changes the definition of smoke shops and restaurants. Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Jan. 2026 During the last week of each month, the couple sit down together to review financial goals, set a few tasks for the coming month, and schedule all the bills around their paydays to avoid surprises. Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026 But in the booming world of online prediction markets, some people are not only betting against Musk but also bringing in big paydays doing so. Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 25 Jan. 2026 Taylor, who skyrocketed to fame as a child actor and was among the first film stars to receive a $1 million payday for a role, spent much of her life in the spotlight. Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 21 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for payday

Word History

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of payday was in 1529

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Cite this Entry

“Payday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/payday. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

payday

noun
pay·​day ˈpā-ˌdā How to pronounce payday (audio)
: a regular day on which wages are paid
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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