payoff

[pey-awf, -of]

noun

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.

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of payoff¹

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

Example Sentences

Companies are expected to take risks, even with their communications strategies, Angel said, but the question remains whether or not the payoff will be worth it.

Read more on MarketWatch

“It makes sense to overinvest in it, to overspend on it, because the payoff is enormous.”

Read more on Barron's

“It makes sense to overinvest in it, to overspend on it, because the payoff is enormous.”

Read more on Barron's

The scene’s dramatic payoff wasn’t originally scripted and almost didn’t happen, as the cabin set had to be redesigned so one side could be removed.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But Silicon Valley’s spending spree, including an historic infrastructure buildout increasingly reliant on mountains of debt, has given more investors pause about the potential payoff.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• consequence 
• outcome 
• payment 
• reward 
• settlement