payroll

UK: /ˈpeɪrəʊl/ US: /ˈpeɪˌroʊl/ ,(pā′rōl′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pay•roll /ˈpeɪˌroʊl/   n. [countable]

1. a list of employees to be paid, with the amount owed to each.
2. [usually singular] the sum total of these amounts.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pay•roll  (pā′rōl′), n. 

1. a list of employees to be paid, with the amount due to each.
2. the sum total of these amounts.
3. the actual money on hand for distribution:
   The bandits got away with the payroll.
4. the total number of people employed by a business firm or organization.

v.t. 

5. to fund or subsidize:
   to be payrolled by the State Department.

• pay¹ + roll 1765–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

payroll / ˈpeɪˌrəʊl/ noun

1. a list of employees, specifying the salary or wage of each
2. the total of these amounts or the actual money equivalent
3. (as modifier): a payroll tax