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

That is a problem for retailers and brands that look to Generation Z—a group that runs from teens to late-20-somethings—to drive shopping trends and boost spending steadily as they earn bigger paychecks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“There are people who are in debt and living paycheck to paycheck.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They worked a week picking melons, got their $600 paycheck and never returned.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But those losses have slowed since April and the Kremlin has managed to bolster the army's ranks by offering recruits hefty paychecks.

Read more on Barron's

Lower- and middle-income households, who are more likely to live paycheck to paycheck, have been especially vulnerable to price fluctuations.

Read more on Barron's

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.