payable
Americanadjective
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to be paid; due.
a loan payable in 30 days.
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capable of being or liable to be paid.
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Law. imposing an immediate obligation on the debtor.
noun
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an amount, bill, etc., that is to be paid.
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payables, the accounts payable of a business.
Payables are now handled by our computer.
adjective
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(often foll by on) to be paid
payable on the third of each month
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that is capable of being paid
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capable of being profitable
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(of a debt) imposing an obligation on the debtor to pay, esp at once
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of payable
late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at pay 1, -able
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With an indirect rollover, the check is made payable to the former employee, is treated as a distribution and is subject to mandatory 20% tax withholding.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 19, 2026
Only when an airline is at fault is extra compensation payable.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
The dividend is payable Aug. 5 to stockholders of record July 22.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
This can be worth between $50,000 and $300,000, payable at State Farm’s discretion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026
A tremendous effort by kind, old Mrs. Jacobs from the accounts payable department She brings an apple pie — but wait a minute.
From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
