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 Challenger data also comes one day after ADP reported that private employer payrolls contracted by a net 32,000 jobs in November. —Steve Kopack, NBC news, 4 Dec. 2025

After private payroll data showed weakness in the labor market, stocks climbed as investors hoped the report would strengthen the case for an interest rate cut at the Federal Reserve’s meeting next week. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 4 Dec. 2025

Uncover every snake on his payroll. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Dec. 2025

What To Know This week marks the 10th annual , an initiative of the IRS and its Security Summit partners, including state tax agencies, the tax preparation industry, software developers, payroll and financial institutions. —Associate News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 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