paycheck: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
High (in US English)Neutral to informal; common in everyday speech.
Quick answer
What does “paycheck” mean?
A check or other form of payment issued to an employee by an employer for wages or salary earned.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A check or other form of payment issued to an employee by an employer for wages or salary earned.
The amount of money one earns from one's job, often used metonymically to represent one's income or financial means. It can also symbolize the tangible result of one's labor.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'pay packet', 'wage packet', or simply 'pay' or 'salary' are more common. 'Paycheck' is understood but strongly associated with American usage.
Connotations
In AmE, it has neutral to slightly working/middle-class connotations. In BrE, its use can sound distinctly American.
Frequency
Very frequent in AmE; relatively low frequency in BrE, where alternatives are preferred.
Grammar
How to Use “paycheck” in a Sentence
receive a paychecklive paycheck to paycheckdeposit your paycheckwait for the paycheckVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “paycheck” in a Sentence
adjective
American English
- paycheck protection
- paycheck fairness act
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in HR and payroll contexts (e.g., 'Paychecks are issued bi-weekly').
Academic
Rare, except in economics or sociological studies of labor and income.
Everyday
Extremely common (e.g., 'I just got my paycheck!', 'It's paycheck day!').
Technical
Used in payroll software and financial systems.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “paycheck”
Strong
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “paycheck”
- Spelling as two words: 'pay check' (less common). Confusing with 'payment check' (a check for paying a bill).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is understood but not the standard term. British English prefers 'pay', 'wages', 'salary', or 'pay packet'.
Yes, even with direct deposit, people often refer to their periodic salary payment as their 'paycheck'.
'Salary' is the agreed annual/monthly amount. A 'paycheck' is the specific payment for a period (e.g., two weeks).
It is neutral but more common in everyday, conversational contexts than in highly formal writing.
A check or other form of payment issued to an employee by an employer for wages or salary earned.
Paycheck: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪ.tʃek/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪ.tʃek/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “live paycheck to paycheck”
- “the paycheck stops here”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CHECK you get for your PAY. Pay + Check = Paycheck.
Conceptual Metaphor
LABOR IS A COMMODITY / TIME IS MONEY (you exchange time/labor for a paycheck).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase best describes a person with no financial savings?