payoff

A benefit or good result that comes from effort or work.

• All that practice had a big payoff.
• The payoff for her patience was a better job.
• We expect the training to bring a long-term payoff.

How to use it: payoff for something (The payoff for months of training was a medal.)

Similar words: reward, benefit

Common phrases: big payoff, payoff for something, long-term payoff

The money gained from an investment.

• The investment produced a large payoff.
• Investors accepted more risk for a higher expected payoff.
• The fund’s payoff was smaller than she had hoped.

Similar words: return, profit

Common phrases: investment payoff, expected payoff, financial payoff

Money given secretly to make someone do something dishonest or illegal.

• The official accepted a secret payoff.
• Police discovered payoffs to several local politicians.
• He denied taking a payoff to ignore the violation.

Similar words: bribe

Common phrases: secret payoff, illegal payoff, payoff to someone

A payment that clears all the money owed.

• The loan payoff cleared his remaining debt.
• She requested the exact payoff amount from the bank.
• The lender confirmed receipt of the final payoff.

Similar words: settlement, full payment

Common phrases: loan payoff, mortgage payoff, final payoff