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

He's projected to sign for $182 million, per Jim Bowden of The Athletic, which should fit in the Red Sox's payroll. —Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2025

Private companies shed an average of 13,500 jobs per week over the past four weeks, according to payroll processing firm ADP on Tuesday. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 26 Nov. 2025

Over her nearly two decades in the civil service, Walls noted the state has taken various measures to reduce payroll costs, including furloughs and restructuring retirement benefits. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 26 Nov. 2025

According to Red Sox Payroll on Twitter, which has accurately tracked the Red Sox’s payroll since 2011, Gray’s acquisition will bring the club’s 2026 payroll to just under $225 million, or $19 million under the first Competitive Balance Tax threshold. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 26 Nov. 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