payoff

American  

[pey-awf, -of] / ˈpeɪˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

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.

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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.

Etymology

Origin of payoff

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

Example Sentences

This frees them to think longer term, placing smaller bets on companies whose payoff might not arrive immediately.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

But he signaled Amazon’s willingness to endure these near-term headwinds for the long-term payoff.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Bill is a genius in terms of setting something up in a previous episode so that there’s a payoff in the finale.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

For U.S. gas exporters, the payoff has been immediate: Shares of Cheniere Energy, the country’s largest exporter, are up 45%.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

Kurnakov decided the potential payoff was worth the risk.

From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• consequence
• outcome
• payment
• reward
• settlement