payday

[pey-dey]

noun

1. the day on which wages are given, payment is made, etc.

2. Informal.,  a day or period during which a great deal of money, success, fame, etc., is won or obtained.

   Payday came when she was given a screen test by a big Hollywood studio.

payday

/ ˈpeɪˌdeɪ /

noun

1. the day on which wages or salaries are paid

Word History and Origins

Origin of payday¹

First recorded in 1520–30; pay ¹ + day

Example Sentences

Elon Musk, despite how badly Tesla’s stock performs or how outrageous he behaves, was just given a trillion dollar payday by the company’s shareholders.

Read more on Salon

Still, the novice remains one of boxing's biggest commercial attractions, regularly earning huge paydays.

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Despite criticism that the bout is a mismatch designed to deliver Joshua, 35, an easy payday, Hearn insists his fighter remains focused on long-term plans.

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It never got off the ground, but its premise was familiar: Rich paydays for golfers who felt they weren’t being paid what they were worth.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A key form of compensation is driving the moves, with midlevel employees at big prestigious firms leaving potential paydays worth millions of dollars on the table.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal