payable

American  

[pey-uh-buhl] / ˈpeɪ ə bəl /

adjective

1. to be paid; due.

   a loan payable in 30 days.

2. capable of being or liable to be paid.

3. profitable.

4. Law. imposing an immediate obligation on the debtor.

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noun

1. an amount, bill, etc., that is to be paid.

2. payables, the accounts payable of a business.

   Payables are now handled by our computer.

payable British  

/ ˈpeɪəbəl /

adjective

1. (often foll by on) to be paid

   payable on the third of each month

2. that is capable of being paid

3. capable of being profitable

4. (of a debt) imposing an obligation on the debtor to pay, esp at once

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Other Word Forms

• payability noun
• payableness noun
• payably adverb
• unpayable adjective
• unpayably adverb

Etymology

Origin of payable

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; pay ¹, -able

Example Sentences

The deal includes about $1.68 billion in upfront cash, payable at closing, and up to $500 million in contingent milestone payments.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

The fine is essentially a punishment payable to the government, because contempt of court is treated as an offence against the courts.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Separately, the company raised its per-share quarterly dividend to $2.33 from $2.30, with the new dividend payable March 26 to shareholders of record on March 12.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026

Paramount’s most recent offer was $30 for all of Warner Discovery plus a so-called ticking fee of 25 cents a share, payable for each quarter it hasn’t closed the deal beyond the end of 2026.

From Barron's • Feb. 24, 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

Related Words

• outstanding
• owed
• unpaid