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 second round of November Social Security payments for retirees, now capped at $5,181, will be issued in seven days. — Mackenzie Chase, The Washington Examiner, 11 Nov. 2026

Both types of auctions typically require an upfront cash payment. — Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 11 Nov. 2026

Levy, along with Trustees Kimani Levy and Gail Schechter, voted against allowing a fee-in-lieu payment. — Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026

Green denied having any involvement in how the payment method was structured. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 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