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.

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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

Example Sentences

Do you remember what you bought with your first paycheck?

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

Indeed, one reason economists are somewhat sanguine about higher energy prices is that last year’s tax law is putting cash in Americans’ pockets through bigger tax refunds and lower paycheck withholding.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Annuities — insurance products that provide guaranteed income similar to a paycheck — are worth exploring.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

After working without pay and facing the prospect of missing a second paycheck, Transportation Security Administration agents have been calling out sick or quitting in growing numbers.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

He has not checked his mail in over a week, and among two flyers and a paycheck and a single utility bill is a small package from a veterans’ service organization located in West Berlin.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr