payment

noun

pay·​ment ˈpā-mənt 

1

: the act of paying

2

: something that is paid : pay

3

: requital

Synonyms

• compensation
• disbursement
• giving
• paying
• remitment
• remittance
• remuneration

Examples of payment in a Sentence

Payment is due on the first of every month.

Prompt payment of your bill ensures that you will not have to pay any additional fees.

We require payment in advance for all goods purchased.

a payment plan to reduce your debt

cash, credit cards, and other methods of payment

Our records show that we received a payment of $215.36 in May.

Buy this product for three easy payments of only $19.95!

It took me five years to pay off the car, but I never missed a payment.

making payments on a loan

The credit card company just increased the penalty on late payments.

Recent Examples on the Web

The president also wants to eliminate tax on tips, overtime and Social Security payments. —Riley Beggin, USA Today, 13 May 2025

These anticorruption provisions are designed to prevent presidents from accepting gifts or payments from foreign officials or U.S. states. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2025

However, in the U.K., results from payments infrastructure startup ClearBank hinted at the impact of lower rates. —Ryan Browne, CNBC, 13 May 2025

The result is that Apple cannot block developers for linking to or advertising external payment methods which will get around Apple’s cut. —Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing payment

• balloon payment
• co-payment
• down payment
• in payment
• on payment of
• stop payment
• transfer payment

Rhymes for payment

• claimant
• copayment
• embayment
• nonpayment
• prepayment
• repayment
• overpayment
• underpayment

Kids Definition

payment

noun

pay·​ment ˈpā-mənt 

1

: the act of paying

2

: money given to pay a debt

3

: pay entry 2 sense 2