payment

/ˈpeɪmənt/
money given for goods/services

She made a payment of $50 for the groceries.

She transferred money to pay for the groceries.


formal

The act of paying or the amount paid for something.

The payment was processed within 24 hours.

The money was transferred successfully within a day.

We offer flexible payment plans for large purchases.

Customers can choose how to pay over time for expensive items.

Often used in business, finance, and everyday transactions.

Collocations

make a paymentto pay money for somethingpayment methodthe way money is transferred (e.g., credit card, cash)late paymentmoney paid after the due datepayment planan agreement to pay in installments

Pro Tip

Common Collocations

Use 'payment' with verbs like 'make,' 'process,' 'receive,' or 'demand.' Example: 'The store made a demand for payment after the invoice was overdue.'

Gold Rule

Payment vs. Pay

'Payment' is a noun referring to the act or amount paid. 'Pay' is a verb meaning to give money for something. Example: 'She will pay the bill' (verb) vs. 'She made a payment' (noun).

Word Origin

From Old French *paiment* (payment, satisfaction), from *payer* (to pay), from Latin *pacare* (to pacify, pay), from *pax* (peace). Originally meant 'satisfaction' or 'appeasement' in Latin.

Usage Notes

Payment can refer to both the act of paying and the sum of money transferred. It is commonly used in both formal (business, law) and informal (everyday shopping) contexts.

Word Breakdown

pay
to give money for goods/services
root
+
-ment
action or result of
suffix
English Dictionary