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

Normally the All-Star break is a really lucrative concert window for us, which is very helpful to putting a great payroll together for Jed (Hoyer). — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026

For the first time a Republican -- Senator Bernie Moreno -- joined a Democrat to propose lifting the payroll-tax cap to bring in more revenue. — Teresa Ghilarducci, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

These new jobs could potentially create a payroll impact of more than $4 million for the region annually, Stein’s office said. — Charlotte Observer, 17 July 2026

The trust fund that supplements incoming payroll taxes to pay monthly Social Security benefits is expected to run dry by the end of 2032, according to the program's trustees. — Medora Lee, USA Today, 16 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