payee

American  

[pey-ee] / peɪˈi /

noun

1. a person to whom a check, money, etc., is payable.

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payee British  

/ peɪˈiː /

noun

1. the person to whom a cheque, money order, etc, is made out

2. a person to whom money is paid or due

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Etymology

Origin of payee

First recorded in 1750–60; pay ¹ + -ee

Compare meaning

How does payee compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• payer vs. payee

Explanation

A payee is someone who receives money. If your boss hands you your first paycheck, then you are officially a payee. Congrats. Anyone who is paid is a payee, but the term is most commonly used to mean the person (or organization) whose name is written on a check after the words "pay to the order of." If you write a check to pay your cable bill, the cable company is the payee. And if they make a billing mistake and issue you a refund check, you're the payee. Payee uses the suffix -ee, which means "recipient."

Example Sentences

Sometimes foreign companies will withhold local taxes from dividends before sending them to a U.S. payee.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

As a taxpayer, a Social Security payee, and someone who appreciates efficiency and good government, I am grateful to them.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 28, 2025

Given the gravity of the situation — transferring retirement funds from the participant to the alternate payee — the process can be complex and must meet certain guidelines.

From Salon • Dec. 29, 2024

But what happens if the payee cannot accept electronic payments?

From New York Times • Jan. 7, 2024

"Not the association of bankruptcy—no; as you represent the payee!"

From The Outcry by James, Henry

Related Words

• heir
• recipient