payment

payment — noun

1. money someone gives for goods, services, or a debt

1.nounB2
Definition

money someone gives for goods, services, or a debt

Example

Nina made the final payment for her scooter at the bank.

make the final payment for + thing

The hotel asked for payment before guests received their room keys.

ask for payment before + service

Common collocations
  • final payment
  • cash payment
  • card payment
  • late payment
  • make a payment
Synonyms
  • fee

    usually money paid for a service, class, or official process

  • charge

    often the amount a business asks you to pay

  • instalment

    one part of a larger amount paid over time

  • deposit

    money paid early to reserve something

Grammar Patterns

make a payment

payment for + noun

payment by + method

Usage Note

Common with make, receive, and prepositions such as for and by. Distinguish from sense 4, which focuses on the act or method of paying rather than the sum itself.

Common Mistakes

I did a payment online.
I made a payment online.
English usually uses make with the noun payment.

2. the act or process of giving money

2.noun
Definition

the act or process of giving money

Example

The clinic accepts payment at the front desk after the eye test.

accept payment at + place

Online payment saves time for parents at the school office.

online payment

Common collocations
  • online payment
  • card payment
  • payment by phone
  • payment system
  • payment method
Synonyms
  • paying

    the closest plain-English form, but less common as a noun

  • settlement

    more formal and often used for completing a bill or debt

  • transaction

    broader because it includes the whole business exchange, not only the money step

Grammar Patterns

payment by + method

accept payment at + place

online payment

Usage Note

Often modified by words for method, such as card, cash, online, or by phone. Distinguish from sense 1, which names the amount itself rather than the paying event or system.

Common Mistakes

The payment is ten dollars.
The price is ten dollars.
this sense is about paying as an action or process, not about the amount.

3. money a person finally gets after it should have been given earlier

3.noun
Definition

money a person finally gets after it should have been given earlier

Example

After the court case, forty nurses received payment for last year's missing wages.

receive payment for earlier wages

The retired driver got a payment when the pension mistake was fixed.

get a payment after an error

Common collocations
  • receive payment
  • payment for missing wages
  • promised payment
  • delayed payment
Synonyms
  • back pay

    more specific to wages that should have been paid before

  • arrears

    often refers to overdue money connected with salary, rent, or benefits

  • settlement

    a broader final amount paid after a dispute or delay

Grammar Patterns

receive a payment

get a payment

payment for + earlier wages

Usage Note

Often follows receive or get in stories about salary, pensions, or benefits. Distinguish from sense 1, which can be any ordinary payment and does not imply delay or an earlier debt.

Common Mistakes

The company gave us a payment for next month's work.
The company gave us an advance for next month's work.
this sense is money owed from earlier, not money paid early.

4. something given back to thank or repay someone for what they did

4.noun
Definition

something given back to thank or repay someone for what they did

Example

The old farmer gave the boys apples in payment for their help.

in payment for + noun

As payment for her song, the cafe offered Nina free cake.

as payment for + noun

Common collocations
  • in payment for help
  • as payment for a song
  • payment for service
Synonyms
  • reward

    the broadest word for something given in return for help or effort

  • repayment

    stresses giving something back for what was received

  • recompense

    very formal and literary

Grammar Patterns

in payment for + noun

as payment for + noun

Usage Note

Usually appears in the patterns as payment for or in payment for. It is much more formal than sense 1 and often sounds literary or ceremonial.

Common Mistakes

I gave him payment for opening the door.
I thanked him for opening the door.
this sense is formal and suits a real return or reward, not a small everyday kindness.
Idioms

on payment of something

idiom

After you have paid a certain amount of money.

You can enter the museum on payment of a small fee.

On payment of the deposit, the hotel room was reserved.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For sense 1, payment is the broadest word for money that someone gives or has given. Fee is narrower and usually means money for a service, class, membership, or official process. Charge often names the amount a business asks for something, especially on a menu, receipt, or hotel statement. Bill is usually the document asking for money, though everyday speech sometimes uses it for the amount due. Instalment means one part of a larger amount paid over time, and deposit is money paid early to reserve something. You can make a payment on a loan, pay a visa fee, question a hotel charge, or leave a deposit for a hall booking.

fee ↗charge ↗billinstalmentdeposit ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • cash payment
  • card payment
  • online payment

Phrases

  • make a payment
  • receive payment

Prepositions

  • payment for
  • payment by
  • payment in

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Payment was formed in Middle English from pay plus the noun ending -ment. The verb pay came through French from Latin pacare, which first meant 'make peaceful' and later developed the idea of satisfying or settling what is owed.