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

The big economic release of the week arrived Friday in the form of the November nonfarm payrolls report . —Zev Fima, CNBC, 8 Dec. 2024

Or, one of your current consulting clients might hire you in-house and put you on their payroll. —Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

The big picture: Tips make up an increasingly large share of restaurant workers' pay nationally amid the rise of tipping culture, according to Square's recent report, which examines payroll data. —Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 4 Dec. 2024

Maximize your savings: Best high-yield savings accounts A Reuters survey of economists estimated payrolls increased by 200,000 jobs last month after rising by only 12,000 in October, the fewest since December 2020. —Lucia Mutikani, USA TODAY, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1740, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing payroll

• payroll deduction
• payroll tax

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