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 White Sox certainly have the payroll flexibility.
—
Phil Rogers, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
If government payroll softness intensifies in the fall, Morgan Stanley expects an even more dovish policy stance from the central bank, which should ultimately support equities.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
Fire department records show that two of those employees convicted of felonies are still on the KCFD payroll.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
Powell in his post-meeting comments noted the weakness in the recent payrolls data.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for payroll
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Phil Rogers, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
If government payroll softness intensifies in the fall, Morgan Stanley expects an even more dovish policy stance from the central bank, which should ultimately support equities.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
Fire department records show that two of those employees convicted of felonies are still on the KCFD payroll.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 17 Sep. 2025
Powell in his post-meeting comments noted the weakness in the recent payrolls data.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 17 Sep. 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 20 Sep. 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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