Word
paycheck
Phoneticspay·check, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpeɪˌtʃɛk/
UK/pˈeɪtʃɛk/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the money you earn from your job, usually paid every week or month. It can be a physical piece of paper or a direct payment into your bank account.
n. a check or electronic transfer issued to an employee for services rendered. Often used metonymically to refer to the total amount of one's salary or wages.
Examples
“I get my paycheck on the last Friday of every month.”
“After working overtime for two weeks, she was happy to see a much larger paycheck than usual.”
“Many young professionals in the city find it difficult to save money, as high rent costs often consume more than half of their monthly paycheck.”
Examples
simple
“I get my paycheck on the last Friday of every month.”
contextual
“After working overtime for two weeks, she was happy to see a much larger paycheck than usual.”
complex
“Many young professionals in the city find it difficult to save money, as high rent costs often consume more than half of their monthly paycheck.”
Usage
Commonly used in American English; 'payslip' or 'salary' are more frequent in British English.
Etymology
From pay (“wages or salary”) + check (“means of payment”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/paycheck