payment

noun

pay·​ment ˈpā-mənt 

1

: the act of paying

2

: something that is paid : pay

3

: requital

Synonyms of payment

• paying

Examples of payment in a Sentence

Payment is due on the first of every month.

Prompt payment of your bill ensures that you will not have to pay any additional fees.

We require payment in advance for all goods purchased.

a payment plan to reduce your debt

cash, credit cards, and other methods of payment

Our records show that we received a payment of $215.36 in May.

Buy this product for three easy payments of only $19.95!

It took me five years to pay off the car, but I never missed a payment.

making payments on a loan

The credit card company just increased the penalty on late payments.

Recent Examples on the Web

The president has also in the past made similar promises of delivering cash payments to Americans, which did not materialize. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026

The third round of October Social Security payments for retirees, now capped at $5,181, will be issued today. — Emily Danner, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026

Campaign finance records reviewed by the Herald did not show payments from Gonzalez’s campaign to Kaemmer or to anyone else for campaign work on his behalf. — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026

In low-income and rural areas, many families can’t pay prices that cover the true cost of care, and subsidy payments are often set below that cost. — Caitlyn Collins, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing payment

• balloon payment
• co-payment
• down payment
• in payment
• on payment of
• stop payment
• transfer payment

Rhymes for payment

• claimant
• copayment
• embayment
• nonpayment
• prepayment
• repayment
• overpayment
• underpayment

Kids Definition

payment

noun

pay·​ment ˈpā-mənt 

1

: the act of paying

2

: money given to pay a debt

3

: pay entry 2 sense 2