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

Low was fined $106,000 for concealing payments between his tech nonprofit and actor Alec Baldwin. —Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 11 Jan. 2026

Like Robin Hood in reverse, credit card companies take the interest payments from those who carry a balance and redistribute them as rewards that benefit people who don’t. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 Jan. 2026

The chef sought payment for a week in November when Diggs was hosting house guests and had to go home, Ellis wrote. —Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026

Visa and Mastercard In a recent 2026 outlook, a team led by analyst Will Nance called the two payment companies long term winners. —Michael Bloom, CNBC, 10 Jan. 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