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payer

American  
[pay-er] / ˈpeɪ ər /

noun

  • payers
    plural
  1. a person who pays.

  2. the person named in a bill or note who has to pay the holder.


payer British  
/ ˈpeɪə /

noun

  1. a person who pays

  2. the person named in a commercial paper as responsible for its payment on redemption

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of payer

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75; see origin at pay 1, -er 1


Compare meaning

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


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Finding it early enough to save lives—and justify widespread payer coverage—is another.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

If the teenage driver’s insurance company is legally responsible for your medical bills, they are the primary payer, and Medicare is the secondary payer.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026

HCA Healthcare lowered its 2026 financial guidance following payer mix shifts due to health insurance exchanges.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

"I've had to cover the difference as the last payer," the 37-year-old says.

From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026

A phone with Caller ID, best friend of the occasionally delinquent bill payer.

From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz

City are big payers, and other clubs may not be willing to meet similar wage demands.

From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026

NJ Transit and the governor explained the increased fare for ticket holders was a protective measure so the additional cost isn’t spread across all commuters and New Jersey tax payers.

From Salon ● Jun. 3, 2026

That equates to 72 cents of every dollar not going to R&D but being extracted from payers and patients who are desperate for more affordable access.

From MarketWatch ● May 21, 2026

“The onus is definitely on NextEra to show the value proposition and what’s in it for rate payers, and that’s important,” Bartlett said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

She’s one of my former Garbage Tax payers.

From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya

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