stop payment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Financial
Quick answer
What does “stop payment” mean?
An instruction given to a bank not to pay a cheque or other payment order.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An instruction given to a bank not to pay a cheque or other payment order.
A formal request to a financial institution to cancel a payment that has been authorized but not yet processed, often used for cheques, standing orders, or direct debits.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept and term are identical. The process and associated fees may vary between banking systems.
Connotations
Neutral financial term in both variants. Slightly more common in American English due to historical cheque usage.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in financial contexts in both regions. Declining as electronic payments replace cheques.
Grammar
How to Use “stop payment” in a Sentence
[Subject: person/business] + stop payment + on + [Object: cheque/draft]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stop payment” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I need to stop payment on that cheque I lost.
American English
- You should stop payment on that check if it hasn't been cashed.
adjective
British English
- The bank requires a stop-payment fee.
American English
- I submitted a stop-payment request this morning.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in accounting and finance to prevent fraud or correct errors in issued payments.
Academic
Found in economics and business law texts discussing financial instruments and liabilities.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation, used when discussing banking problems with a lost cheque.
Technical
A specific banking procedure with defined rules, time limits, and often a fee.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stop payment”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stop payment”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stop payment”
- Using 'stop the payment' as a general phrase instead of the specific financial term 'stop payment'. Confusing it with 'cancel a payment', which can be more general (e.g., cancelling a online transfer before it's sent).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. If the payment has already been processed by the bank, a stop payment request will fail. Timing is critical.
Yes, most banks charge a fee for this service.
Typically, only on pre-authorized but not-yet-processed transactions like cheques or some recurring debits. You cannot stop a cash payment or a completed electronic transfer.
You need the cheque number, exact amount, date, and the name of the payee.
An instruction given to a bank not to pay a cheque or other payment order.
Stop payment is usually formal, financial in register.
Stop payment: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstɒp ˈpeɪmənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstɑːp ˈpeɪmənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Put a stop payment on it.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a STOP sign in front of a bag of money labelled 'PAYMENT'.
Conceptual Metaphor
FINANCIAL FLOW IS A LIQUID FLOW / stopping payment is damming or blocking that flow.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a 'stop payment'?