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 Wolves had one of the most expensive payrolls in the league this season and will pay more than $90 million in luxury taxes.
—
Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Sarkisian referenced a recent Houston Chronicle column that highlighted Texas' roster payroll.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2025
The government has already established that several of Combs’ employees and people on his payroll saw the mogul physically abusing Ventura over the course of their relationship.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025
Listen to this article The Bay State’s executive branch hiring freeze went into effect on Tuesday, and the idea has got one member of the State Senate wondering if the chill should spread to other parts of the state payroll.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for payroll
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Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 30 May 2025
Sarkisian referenced a recent Houston Chronicle column that highlighted Texas' roster payroll.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2025
The government has already established that several of Combs’ employees and people on his payroll saw the mogul physically abusing Ventura over the course of their relationship.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025
Listen to this article The Bay State’s executive branch hiring freeze went into effect on Tuesday, and the idea has got one member of the State Senate wondering if the chill should spread to other parts of the state payroll.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for payroll
Cite this Entry
“Payroll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/payroll. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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