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Payoff: meaning, definitions and examples

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payoff

 

[ ˈpeɪɒf ]

Context #1

financial

The amount of money that is owed to someone for work they have done or for some other debt

Synonyms

compensation, payment, settlement

Examples of usage

  • He received a huge payoff for his hard work.
  • The company offered a generous payoff to its employees.
Context #2

crime

A bribe or other inducement paid to someone, especially an illegal one

Synonyms

bribe, hush money, kickback

Examples of usage

  • The corrupt official demanded a payoff to look the other way.
  • The criminal gang arranged a payoff to avoid prosecution.
Context #3

informal

To produce a successful result; to be successful

Synonyms

bring results, succeed, work out

Examples of usage

  • The risky investment eventually paid off.
  • All the hard work paid off in the end.

Translations

Translations of the word "payoff" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pagamento

🇮🇳 भुगतान

🇩🇪 Auszahlung

🇮🇩 pembayaran

🇺🇦 виплата

🇵🇱 wypłata

🇯🇵 支払い

🇫🇷 paiement

🇪🇸 pago

🇹🇷 ödeme

🇰🇷 지불

🇸🇦 دفع

🇨🇿 výplata

🇸🇰 výplata

🇨🇳 支付

🇸🇮 izplačilo

🇮🇸 greiðsla

🇰🇿 төлем

🇬🇪 გადახდა

🇦🇿 ödəmə

🇲🇽 pago

Word origin

The word 'payoff' originated in the late 19th century in the context of financial transactions, referring to the final payment of a debt or salary. Over time, its usage expanded to include the concept of receiving a reward or benefit for one's actions. In the realm of crime, 'payoff' took on a negative connotation, denoting illicit payments or bribes. The verb form 'pay off' emerged as a colloquial expression to signify achieving a successful outcome or result. Today, 'payoff' is commonly used in various contexts to denote both financial settlements and positive outcomes.

See also: nonpayer, nonpayment, pay, payable, payback, payee, payer, paymaster, payment, payments, payor, paywise, repay, repayment, spay.