autopay

American  

[aw-toh-pey] / ˈɔ toʊˌpeɪ /

noun

Finance.

1. a computerized service that automatically deducts from an individual’s checking, savings, or money market account an owed recurring payment, as for a bank loan, credit card, or utility bill, in time to meet the payment due date.

   Using autopay helps ensure timely payments and the avoidance of late fees.

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Usage

What does autopay mean in budgeting and savings? Autopay, short for automatic payment, is a computerized service that automatically deducts an owed recurring payment from an individual’s account (usually a checking, savings, or money market account), in time to meet a payment due date. Autopay can usually be set up directly with the company receiving payment or through the payment service of one's bank. Autopay can be set up to make many types of payments, including recurring payments for a bank loan, a credit card, or utility bill, etc. Using autopay for recurring bills ensures timely payments and the avoidance of late fees.

Etymology

Origin of autopay

First recorded in 1980–85; shortening of automatic payment

Example Sentences

It’s also important to not make any new buy-now-pay-later purchases and to set up autopay on outstanding loans to avoid late fees, said Joe Piszczor, founder of Washington Family Wealth in Washington, Penn.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 8, 2026

Unplugging autopay can also make you more cognizant of where your dollars are going, De La Rosa said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

If you avoid creating a budget, putting your bills on autopay or learning how to invest, your financial life may become more stressful.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 9, 2024

To avoid any late fees, check your account on the first due date, he said, to make sure the autopay function is working and funds are available.

From New York Times • Dec. 29, 2022

Dell wanted to go for guardianship too, but he's pretty much broke—even though I recently put his accounts on autopay to help straighten out some of his finances—so he doesn't qualify.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan