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Definition of payback

payback

/ˈpeɪ.bæk/
pay · back
Plural:paybacks
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payback Lexical Profile

payback Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An act of retaliation or revenge for a prior wrong, injury, or slight.

Example

"He hid his brother's car keys as payback for the practical joke played on him the week before."

2

A financial return or accrue of benefits equal to the original cost of an investment, or the period of time required to recoup an initial expenditure.

Example

"Installing solar panels on the warehouse roof offered a full payback in energy savings within four years."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

The closed compound noun "payback" refers to revenge or financial return, whereas the two-word phrasal verb "pay back" is used for the action of repaying money or retaliating (e.g., "I will pay back the loan").

• Rhymes for payback

• Nearby Words

pay
payable
payables
payback
paycheck
payday
paydirt

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Payback. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/payback
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