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

Even playing in the large San Francisco market and increasing payroll from $175 million in 2024 to $210 million in 2026. —Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2026

These are just some of the findings from the People at Work 2026 report by payroll and human resources services provider ADP — which surveyed more than 39,000 adult workers across 36 markets in 2025. —Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 17 June 2026

According to the city’s payroll database, his total pay last year, including benefits, was more than $312,000, including $135,748 in overtime. —Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026

For 50 years, EP has been a player behind the scenes, handling payroll, production finance, residuals, compliance paperwork and payments while providing expertise and tools to help productions make the most of incentives around the world. —Carole Horst, Variety, 16 June 2026

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