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

Forst didn’t have enough payroll to work with. —Evan Drellich, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026

As a stopgap, lawmakers can agree to independently finance TSA agent payrolls—separating appropriations for what already has bipartisan support, and what remains controversial. —Jackson Shedelbower, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026

Meanwhile, the Raiders will now have millions in salary added back onto their payroll after signing at least 8 players in free agency. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026

Nonfarm payrolls fell by 92,000 jobs in February 2026, contradicting expectations for job growth, and the author contends this represents a fundamental weakness in the administration’s economic narrative. —Los Angeles Times, 10 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