: a regular day on which wages are paid

Examples of payday in a Sentence

Is this Friday a payday?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
All the while, filmmakers are increasingly forgoing larger paydays for the lure of a theatrical release, as was the case out of this year’s Sundance with Olivia Wilde’s The Invite. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026 Are members using overdrafts, payday-style borrowing or revolving debt less over time? — Anand Solanki, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Star talent also needs box office, not just streaming figures, to secure those bigger paydays down the road. — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026 For those onboard the ships willing to tolerate the risks in the Gulf, a hefty payday awaits. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for payday

Word History

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of payday was in 1529

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Cite this Entry

“Payday.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/payday. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

: a regular day on which wages are paid
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