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 Labor Department said its survey of establishments — the raw material for payrolls numbers — was distorted by hurricane effects, as well as an unusually tight window for employers to respond to the department's surveys. —Axios, 1 Nov. 2024

Just 12,000 jobs were added to payrolls, which is below expectations and a drop from the 223,000 added the previous month. —Ted Johnson, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024

The nonfarm payrolls report was the smallest gain since December 2020. —Michele Luhn, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2024

According to Gusto, a platform offering payroll and HR solutions, their data from 300,000-plus small and mid-sized businesses shows an increase in employees taking sabbaticals since 2019. —Nicole Glenn, Forbes, 1 Nov. 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