payoff

American  

[pey-awf, -of] / ˈpeɪˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

noun

payoffs plural

1. the payment of a salary, debt, wager, etc.

2. the time at which such payment is made.

3. the consequence, outcome, or final sequence in a series of events, actions, or circumstances.

   The payoff was when they fired him.

   Synonyms:

   finale, upshot, climax

4. Informal. the climax of something, especially a story or joke.

5. a settlement or reckoning, as in retribution or reward.

6. Informal. a bribe.

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adjective

1. yielding results, especially rewarding or decisive results.

   The payoff play was the long pass into the end zone.

verb phrase

1. 1. to pay (someone) everything that is due that person, especially to do so and discharge from one's employ.

   2. to pay (a debt) in full.

   3. Informal. to bribe.

   4. to retaliate upon or punish; pay back.

   5. to result in success or failure.

      The risk paid off handsomely.

   6. Nautical. to fall off to leeward.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• payoffs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of payoff

First recorded in 1910–15; noun, adjective use of verb phrase pay off

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

payoff payoffs

KOW Wagyu beef cheeks require minimal effort for a massive flavor payoff.

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

Despite there being “plenty to poke fun at,” they note that it’s tough to dismiss SpaceX given its track record and the potential payoff of its plans.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026

“Blow Out” tees up an astonishing setup and payoff, yet does so with a graceful simplicity that makes returning to the film edifying no matter how many times you’ve seen it.

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026

The payoff from the Apogee deal won’t be immediate.

From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026

But as her father said, sometimes you had to take a calculated risk in order to earn the payoff.

From "Time Bomb" by Joelle Charbonneau

Liquid, publicly-traded stock will allow these companies to attract talent with more immediate payoffs via stock options, rather than waiting around for long periods in illiquid assets, he added.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026

During her morning news conference, she seemed to mock some of the U.S. evidence, including hand-written ledgers allegedly denoting payoffs to Mexican politicians.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026

In 2008, both Lee Jae-yong and his father resigned after a former Samsung lawyer turned whistle-blower claimed knowledge of a slush fund that was being used for bribes and political payoffs.

From BBC ● Apr. 29, 2026

Ackman and his team also may make small “macro” investments with the potential for large payoffs like he successfully did on corporate credit in 2020 and interest rates in 2022.

From Barron's ● Apr. 27, 2026

For bettors, the least attractive race is one in which the favorites finish in the top positions, producing low payoffs for winning bets.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Related Words

• consequence
• outcome
• payment
• reward
• settlement