payout: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal to neutral; common in business, finance, legal, and news contexts.
Quick answer
What does “payout” mean?
A substantial sum of money paid out to someone, often as a result of an insurance claim, investment, lottery, or legal settlement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A substantial sum of money paid out to someone, often as a result of an insurance claim, investment, lottery, or legal settlement.
The act or process of disbursing funds; also refers to a scheduled series of payments, such as from a pension or annuity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Slightly more frequent in American financial news. 'Pay-out' (with hyphen) is an accepted but less common variant in British English.
Connotations
Both associate it with finality and substantial amounts. In UK, slightly stronger link to insurance and pensions; in US, also strongly linked to lawsuits and corporate dividends.
Frequency
High frequency in financial sectors in both regions; moderate in general news.
Grammar
How to Use “payout” in a Sentence
[Subject] received a payout from [Source][Source] issued a payout to [Recipient]The payout was for [amount/reason]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The board approved a special dividend payout to shareholders.
Academic
The study analysed the correlation between corporate profitability and dividend payout ratios.
Everyday
They're still waiting for the insurance payout after the flood.
Technical
The annuity product offers a choice between a single-life or joint-life payout option.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “payout”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “payout”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “payout”
- Using 'payout' for a regular monthly salary.
- Misspelling as 'pay out' (verb phrase) when a noun is needed.
- Confusing 'payout' (noun) with 'pay out' (verb).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a noun, it is almost always one word: 'payout'. The verb phrase is two words: 'pay out'.
It's possible but uncommon. 'Payout' typically suggests a substantial or significant sum. For regular small payments, 'payment' or 'allowance' is better.
'Payout' is neutral, relating to legitimate disbursements. 'Payoff' can mean a final payment or bribe, and has stronger informal/slang connotations.
Yes, it's standard terminology for the sum won from a bet or slot machine.
A substantial sum of money paid out to someone, often as a result of an insurance claim, investment, lottery, or legal settlement.
Payout is usually formal to neutral; common in business, finance, legal, and news contexts. in register.
Payout: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪ.aʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpeɪˌaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hit the payout jackpot”
- “waiting for the payout”
- “payout day”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
PAY + OUT: Imagine literally paying out a huge pile of cash from a vault.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A FLUID (payout is a release of that fluid), REWARD IS A HARVEST (payout is the gathered crop).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'payout' LEAST appropriate?