payer

noun pay·er \ ˈpā-ər \

variants: or less commonly payor play \ˈpā-ər, (ˌ)pā-ˈȯr\

|Updated on: 28 Jul 2018

Definition of payer

: one that pays; especially : the person by whom a bill or note has been or should be paid

He is a prompt bill payer.

See payer defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of payer from the Web

Voters in Massachusetts, New York and California probably do want single-payer health care.

— The Economist, "Fork in the roadShould the party move to the left or to the centre?," 12 July 2018
Most of the 90 some resolutions promote such progressive objectives as single-payer health care, free college and opposition to the Dakota Access pipeline.

— the editorial board, WSJ, "Vindicating Justice Alito," 11 July 2018
About one in three Democratic senators and more than half of Democratic representatives support single-payer health care.

— sally c. pipes, Fortune, "Why Does the Left Want Universal Health Care? Britain’s Is on Its Deathbed," 10 July 2018
At freewheeling town-hall meetings, O’Rourke espouses gun control, single-payer health care, and other progressive positions, sprinkling his speeches with folksy anecdotes and occasional profanity.

— andrew rice, Daily Intelligencer, "Can a Democrat Ever Win in Texas?," 10 July 2018
The hearings began following a decision last year by Speaker Anthony Rendon to shelve a controversial single-payer health care bill.

— angela hart, sacbee, "Here are the 16 health care bills proposed after California shelved single-payer," 6 July 2018
What does the public think about Medicare-for-all versus single-payer health care?

— dylan scott, Vox, "The “pleasant ambiguity” of Medicare-for-all in 2018, explained," 2 July 2018
Tax payers are done funding the delusions of the left.

— cynthia sewell, idahostatesman, "14 Idaho candidates on Trump, how they voted & his job performance today | Idaho Statesman," 24 Apr. 2018
Thousands of waterlines have yet to be replaced Since the crisis was uncovered, state and federal tax payers provided a combined $450 million to treat Flint’s water and update homes with new waterlines, among other services.

— NBC News, "As state-run water program ends, Flint churches look to fill void," 11 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'payer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of payer

14th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

PAYER Defined for English Language Learners

payer

noun

Definition of payer for English Language Learners

: a person, organization, etc., that pays or is responsible for paying something

Law Dictionary

payer

legal Definition of payer

variant of payor

Learn More about payer

See words that rhyme with payer Spanish Central: Translation of payer Britannica English: Translation of payer for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up payer? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

payer

Definition of payer

Recent Examples of payer from the Web

First Known Use of payer

PAYER Defined for English Language Learners

payer

Definition of payer for English Language Learners

Law Dictionary

payer

legal Definition of payer

Learn More about payer

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

cerulean

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

A Deep Dive on 'Deep Dive'

10 Words for the Elitists in Your Life

The Good, The Bad, & The Semantically Imprecise - 8/17/2018

9 Words for Places People Call "Home"

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

The Eponym Quiz

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

SCRABBLE® Sprint

A Deep Dive on 'Deep Dive'

10 Words for the Elitists in Your Life

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

Trending: Brennan: Trump's Claims are 'Hogwash'

Ghost Word

payer

Definition of payer

Recent Examples of payer from the Web

First Known Use of payer

PAYER Defined for English Language Learners

payer

Definition of payer for English Language Learners

Law Dictionary

payer

legal Definition of payer

Learn More about payer

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

A Deep Dive on 'Deep Dive'

10 Words for the Elitists in Your Life

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

Trending: Brennan: Trump's Claims are 'Hogwash'

Ghost Word