payment
B1Neutral to formal; universally used in legal, business, financial, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The act of paying money that is owed; the sum of money paid.
A compensation or reward for services or efforts; something given as recompense (often metaphorical).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can refer to both the process/act ('making a payment') and the concrete sum ('the payment was £50').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor differences in typical collocations and phrasing. US English more commonly uses 'payment' as a modifier in compounds (e.g., payment plan).
Connotations
Generally neutral. In UK legal/rental contexts, 'payment' can imply a formal, scheduled transaction more strongly.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
payment for [something]payment of [sum]payment to [recipient]payment by [method]payment on [date/account]payment in [currency/kind]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Payment on the nail (UK: immediate payment)”
- “Payment in kind (non-monetary payment)”
- “Payment up front”
- “Stop payment (on a cheque)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Crucial term for invoices, contracts, and accounting ('net payment terms are 30 days').
Academic
Used in economics, law, and sociology to discuss transactional systems, wages, or historical tribute.
Everyday
Common for bills, shopping, and services ('I made a payment for the car insurance').
Technical
In IT/finance, refers to electronic transaction processing and secure payment protocols.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I made the payment for my new phone.
- The payment is due next Friday.
- She received payment for her work.
- The first payment on the loan is due in January.
- They only accept payment by credit card or bank transfer.
- Your prompt payment is appreciated.
- The contract stipulates payment within 14 days of invoice receipt.
- He demanded payment in full before commencing the project.
- A penalty may be applied for late payment.
- The court ordered the defendant to make restitution payment to the victims.
- Payment of the settlement was structured over a ten-year period.
- The new regulations impact cross-border payment flows significantly.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PAY' + 'MENT' (the act or result of PAYing). A 'MENT' (as in 'instrument') for transferring money.
Conceptual Metaphor
PAYMENT IS A TRANSFER OF VALUE / SETTLEMENT OF A DEBT / COMPLETION OF AN OBLIGATION.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'платеж' (which is correct) and 'оплата' (which can mean both 'payment' and the act of paying). Russian 'выплата' often implies a scheduled, repeated payment like a salary installment.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'pay' instead of 'payment' as a noun ('I made the pay' is incorrect). Confusing 'payment' (money given) with 'invoice' (request for money). Incorrect preposition: 'payment of' a bill, not 'payment for' a bill (though 'payment for services' is correct).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is NOT a typical collocation with 'payment'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Payment' refers to the specific act or amount of money transferred. 'Pay' as a noun is typically used for regular wages or salary (e.g., 'His pay is quite good').
Yes, when referring to the general concept or act ('Payment is required'), it is uncountable. It is countable when referring to specific sums or instances ('three payments of £100').
A 'down payment' is an initial, partial payment made when purchasing something expensive (like a house or car), with the rest paid later, often through a loan.
Absolutely. Terms like 'payment gateway', 'mobile payment', 'contactless payment', and 'payment processor' are central to e-commerce and fintech.