paycheck

[pey-chek]

noun

1. a bank check given as salary or wages.

2. salary or wages.

   One can stretch the paycheck only just so far.

Word History and Origins

Origin of paycheck¹

First recorded in 1900–05; pay ¹ + check ¹

Example Sentences

Now out of forbearance, he worries he won’t be able to keep up with his monthly loan payments and may have some of his paycheck withheld by the government.

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How far would your money go if you suddenly missed a paycheck or two—or more?

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Federal workers will soon feel the impact in their paychecks—either on Friday or Tuesday next week, The Wall Street Journal reported.

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They have worked their entire adult life and saved diligently, and when the paycheck stops, they often find it stressful to begin drawing from their investment accounts.

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Another lesson from the proposed strike: If employers won’t protect their employees from unions, it’s a signal to every red-state governor and Legislature that they need to mount a more vigorous defense of workers’ paychecks.

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When To Use

What does paycheck mean?

A paycheck is the bank check that is given to an employee by their employer to pay them for their work.Paycheck is also used more generally to refer to the money a person is paid for their work, as in Most of my paycheck goes to paying rent and bills. It can refer to wages (payment based on the time spent working or the number of items worked on) or a salary (a set amount paid over time).A paycheck can be an actual piece of paper (a check) that a person can take to the bank to deposit to their account or exchange for cash. Alternatively, a paycheck can be money a company electronically deposits directly into the employee’s bank account. This is often referred to as a direct deposit.Paychecks are often issued to employees every two weeks, but they can also be given weekly, bimonthly, or monthly. Typically, a paycheck also includes information about the  taxes and deductions that have been taken out of an employee’s pay.Paychecks are the most common method of payment in the U.S. for most part-time and full-time employees. Jobs that involve payments of cash or other compensation are much less common.Example: I’m thankful that my work allows me to earn a steady paycheck, but I dream of starting my own business.