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 annuity is paid out as one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments, according to the Mega Millions website. —Tanya Wildt, Freep.com, 6 Dec. 2025

Apple blocks sensitive actions, such as changes to Apple ID and payments. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Dec. 2025

The government stopped sending out most paper checks to recipients as of the end of September, part of an effort to fully modernize federal benefits payments. —Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025

State law also entitled him to approximately $258,000 as well as a monthly payment of around $1,200. —Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025

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