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

On the economic data front, investors awaiting weekly jobless claims on Thursday and looking ahead to February’s nonfarm payrolls report on Friday. —Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026

Owners and some fans of teams with lesser payrolls will dispute Machado and Stanton’s claim — that every org can spend like the Dodgers — as not every club plays in as big a market or is run by a collective with pockets as deep as Los Angeles’. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026

Since 2005, the company has focused on simplifying how small and mid-sized employers access payroll, benefits, risk management, and HR support. —Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026

Also killed was Justin Dignam of Anaheim Hills, the founder of a Southern California payroll company. —City News Service, Daily News, 4 Mar. 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