payable
B2Formal, Business/Financial, Legal
Definition
Meaning
Legally or formally required to be paid; a sum of money that is owed and must be settled.
Of a bill, invoice, debt, or sum of money: due for payment. In accounting/finance: describes liabilities or obligations. In law: capable of being paid or that must be paid (e.g., to a specific person/entity).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an adjective. Often follows the amount/thing owed (e.g., '£100 payable to...'). Implies an obligation, not a suggestion. Can describe the method (e.g., 'payable in instalments').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Slight preference in UK for 'cheque payable to' vs. US 'check payable to'. US legal/financial documents may more frequently use 'payable on demand'.
Connotations
Neutral/concrete in both regions. Slightly more formal/common in written financial contexts than everyday speech.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in business/legal contexts in both UK and US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
payable to [person/entity]payable on [date/event]payable at [location]payable in [currency/instalments]payable by [method/person]payable as per [agreement]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Come payable”
- “Fall due and payable”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The invoice is payable within 30 days of receipt.
Academic
The study examined the economic impact of taxes payable by small enterprises.
Everyday
The rent is payable on the first of each month.
Technical
The bond's coupon is payable semi-annually to the registered holder.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - primarily adjective. Rare/archaic verb use obsolete.
American English
- N/A - primarily adjective. Rare/archaic verb use obsolete.
adverb
British English
- N/A - not standard.
American English
- N/A - not standard.
adjective
British English
- The final balance is payable by the end of the quarter.
- Please make the cheque payable to 'City Council Ltd.'.
American English
- The tax is payable to the federal government.
- Make the check payable to 'Jones & Associates, Inc.'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bill is payable now.
- The ticket price is payable at the door.
- Interest on the loan is payable monthly.
- The fee is payable in euros.
- The full amount becomes payable upon completion of the work.
- Dividends are payable to shareholders of record as of March 1st.
- The penalty clause stipulates that liquidated damages shall be payable in the event of a breach.
- All sums payable under this agreement are exclusive of value-added tax.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: PAY + ABLE = able to be paid, or having the ability/obligation to be paid.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBLIGATION IS A FORCE/DIRECTION (money is payable *to* someone); TIME IS A TRIGGER (payable *on* a date).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как "платежеспособный" (это "solvent").
- "Payable" описывает долг/счёт, а не человека. Правильно: "подлежащий оплате", "к оплате".
Common Mistakes
- Using 'payable' to describe a person (e.g., 'He is payable' -> incorrect).
- Confusing 'payable' (adj. - to be paid) with 'payment' (noun - the act).
- Omitting the preposition (e.g., 'payable the company' -> incorrect; must be 'payable *to* the company').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'payable' used correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, for monetary debts. In very formal/legal contexts, it can extend to other obligations dischargeable by payment (e.g., 'payable in grain' is possible but rare).
They are often synonyms. 'Due' is broader (meaning 'expected' or 'owed'). 'Payable' is more specific to financial/legal contexts and often implies a formal, stipulated obligation. 'Due and payable' is a common legal pairing for emphasis.
No. It describes a debt, invoice, sum, or obligation. To describe a person who can be paid (e.g., a creditor), use 'payee'. To describe a person who can pay, use 'solvent' or 'able to pay'.
In accounting, 'payables' (plural noun) refers to money owed by a company—short-term liabilities. (e.g., 'Accounts Payable' is a standard ledger entry).