payroll

noun

pay·​roll ˈpā-ˌrōl 

1

: a paymaster's or employer's list of those entitled to pay and of the amounts due to each

2

: the sum necessary for distribution to those on a payroll

also : the money to be distributed

Examples of payroll in a Sentence

They cut him from their payroll.

He's the manager of a baseball team with a $50 million payroll.

Businesses are keeping their payrolls low by embracing new technologies.

Recent Examples on the Web

These are the businesses still running payroll on technology built a decade ago. —Gelila, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Job creation in August also showed signs of weakness, as the BLS reported last week that nonfarm payrolls increased by just 22,000 for the month. —Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025

That kind of uncertainty has forced many to pause hiring more workers and, in some cases, reduce their payrolls, too, recent surveys capturing business sentiment indicate. —Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025

But with one of the largest payrolls in the sport and an aging veteran core, the team is playing for much more than a regular season record. —Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1740, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing payroll

• payroll deduction
• payroll tax

Rhymes for payroll

• bankroll
• bedroll
• borehole
• cajole
• catchpole
• charcoal
• condole
• control
• dipole
• downhole
• enroll
• extol

Kids Definition

payroll

noun

pay·​roll ˈpā-ˌrōl 

1

: a list of persons entitled to receive pay with the amounts due to each

2

: the amount of money necessary to pay those on a payroll