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

“If they get things right, the payoff is huge.”

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

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

Using a credit-card payoff calculator can help create a plan to pay it off as soon as possible.

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

“Look, Brother, the school wanted the chocolates sold. And we got them sold. This w-as the payoff, that’s all. A fight. With rules. Fair and square.”

From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier

Related Words

• consequence
• outcome
• payment
• reward
• settlement