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
Of particular concern to Carson is a sharp increase in payroll spending.
—
Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2026
Although jobs data has been volatile, the most recent reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show relatively robust nonfarm payroll growth in both March and April.
—Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
The plan, which called for allowing younger workers to voluntarily put a portion of their payroll taxes in personal retirement accounts, failed due to a lack of public support.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 20 May 2026
The complaint also alleged payroll fraud, claiming that fictitious employees were being issued paper checks that were delivered to museum insiders.
—Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for payroll
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Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2026
Although jobs data has been volatile, the most recent reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show relatively robust nonfarm payroll growth in both March and April.
—Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
The plan, which called for allowing younger workers to voluntarily put a portion of their payroll taxes in personal retirement accounts, failed due to a lack of public support.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 20 May 2026
The complaint also alleged payroll fraud, claiming that fictitious employees were being issued paper checks that were delivered to museum insiders.
—Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for payroll
Cite this Entry
“Payroll.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/payroll. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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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