payoff
payoff Lexical Profile
payoff Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A beneficial outcome, reward, or return resulting from an investment, effort, or series of actions.
"After years of rigorous study, the ultimate payoff was securing a fellowship at the research institute."
The final settlement or full payment of a debt, loan, or financial obligation, or the sum required to settle it.
"We requested a statement from the bank showing the exact payoff for our remaining mortgage balance."
An illicit payment or bribe given to secure a favor, ensure silence, or exert improper influence.
"The investigative journalist uncovered evidence of a secret payoff made to the safety inspector."
The climax, resolution, or decisive point of a narrative, joke, or dramatic sequence.
"The mystery novel built tension slowly, delivering a satisfying emotional payoff in the final chapter."
Word Nuance & Usage
The closed compound "payoff" is always a noun (or attributive modifier), whereas the open two-word form "pay off" functions strictly as a phrasal verb (e.g., "Hard work will pay off, leading to a great payoff").