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

In fact, the effort was led by some 250 federal employees that remained on their agency payrolls. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025

Unlike isolated financial challenges, financial stress often feels like a constant companion for entrepreneurs navigating payroll, debt, and unpredictable revenue streams. —Tiffany Grant, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

From 1979 to 2018, even as the industry shed a third of its payrolls, manufacturing production more than doubled, JPMorgan Chase said in a report. —Paul Davidson, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025

Legit Kits broke even last year, after accounting for costs of inventory, payroll, hiring and a $4,500 monthly rent for a 4,500-square-foot manufacturing space, O’Dell says. —Megan Sauer,ryan Johnston, CNBC, 31 Mar. 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