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 October Social Security payments for retirees, now capped at $5,181, will be issued today. — Adisa Hargett-Robinson, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2026

By October that year, the Internal Revenue Service delivered more than 160 million payments totaling over $270 billion. — Chad De Guzman, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Before any big step, like sending a payment or deleting something, Claude Duet messages you for approval. — Jay Peters, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026

The tax would be due in 2027, and those who choose to spread payments over five years would pay more. — Bilin Lin, Fortune, 21 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