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

Announcement of the school’s closing in 2014 was prompted by its inability to make payroll. —Jan Goldsmith, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025

According to Cot’s Contracts, Crane has carried the two highest payrolls in franchise history across each of the past two seasons. —Chandler Rome, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025

The report used data from the largest payroll provider in the United States, ADP, to gain up-to-date employment and earning data for millions of workers. —IEEE Spectrum, 9 Oct. 2025

For Everyset, a longterm goal is an additional fundraise to expand beyond background actors to start competing as a full-service payroll firm specializing in short-term W-2. —Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 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