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

The deal would be financial feasible for the Phillies, despite them already boasting the fourth-highest payroll in MLB. —Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025

The Suns had the third highest payroll in the league in 2023-24 at $191 million, which took them well over the luxury tax threshold for an additional bill of $68 million, per Spotrac. —Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 22 June 2025

The Mets, who were bought by Wall Street financier Steve Cohen in 2020 and had the highest payroll in 2024, fell to the Dodgers in last year’s postseason. —Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 21 June 2025

The Rays’ 2025 payroll of just over $88 million according to Spotrac’s MLB payroll tracker is currently the 28th lowest in baseball. —Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 21 June 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