payout

noun

pay·​out ˈpā-ˌau̇t How to pronounce payout (audio)
: the act of paying out : payoff

Examples of payout in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Calls to expand the tournament are largely fueled by football-first conferences looking not just to get more teams into the dance but also to earn more units from March Madness payouts. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026 Each settlement payout was up to $25,000. Asia Simone Burns, AJC.com, 21 Apr. 2026 Focused on fast payouts — with many conducted in around four hours — these models target rural populations in particular, which are increasingly impacted by unexpected weather patterns and natural disasters provoked by climate change. Paige Bruton, semafor.com, 20 Apr. 2026 Under the agreement, the bigger payout, which Covert says equals roughly a quarter of his income as an electrical contractor, won’t start until the project is completed and online — and Covert isn’t sure when that will happen amid the shifting federal landscape. Ayurella Horn-Muller, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for payout

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of payout was in 1943

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Cite this Entry

“Payout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/payout. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.

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