paycheck

American  

[pey-chek] / ˈpeɪˌtʃɛk /

noun

1. a bank check given as salary or wages.

2. salary or wages.

   One can stretch the paycheck only just so far.

---

Usage

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.

Etymology

Origin of paycheck

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

Explanation

Your paycheck is the money you get from work, usually every week or two. Country singer Johnny Paycheck’s big hit was “Take This Job and Shove It.” Good luck getting a paycheck after saying that! An employer usually pays employees with regularly scheduled paychecks. Your paycheck represents payment of your wages for the amount of time you worked. A lot of workers have their salaries deposited directly into their bank accounts, so they don't actually get a paper paycheck. You can also use paycheck more generally to mean "income" or "earnings," as in "All that money for health insurance comes right out of my paycheck."

Example Sentences

“It’s a crude analogy, but if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, and your rent doubles in a relatively short period of time, you could be in trouble,” Morales said.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

She is happy I am home, not traveling the world for a paycheck.

From Salon • May 9, 2026

“His paycheck was only around $1,000 at the time,” she recalled with a chuckle, holding back tears.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

Born into a working-class family in southern Tehran, he made his first paycheck selling jewelry in the bazaar, according to a 2013 interview he gave to the Iranian Aseman newspaper.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

It was a lot of money for a man whose paycheck didn’t bridge the week.

From "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand