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

Small-business owners want to be able to make payroll with confidence. — Kent Strang, Boston Herald, 26 July 2026

This is not the type of trimming that other franchises in the same payroll stratosphere have undergone in recent seasons. — Fred Katz, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Even raising the payroll-tax rate on everyone by one percentage point ranked above cutting benefits only for the rich. — Marc Novicoff, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026

In reality, the Mets lose much more money than any other MLB club, due to their payroll and a luxury tax bill estimated to be $120 million before any roster changes, according to Spotrac. — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 23 July 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