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

For now, all eyes turn to the skidding Mets, who own one of baseball’s most expensive payrolls and worst records. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 29 Apr. 2026

Spanning more than 109 acres, a landscape which is now home to the Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets, the original factory had 3,500 workers on payroll and annual production required 100 million feet of lumber and 150,000 tons of iron for wheels, axles, plates, bars and structural material. —Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026

Despite a $380 million payroll (second-highest behind the Los Angeles Dodgers), the team has struggled to consistently produce offense. —Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026

The total cost of pensions may not necessarily decrease as the contribution rate decreases because the state’s payroll costs are likely to increase in the coming years. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 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