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payoff

payoff

31 3.8
A good or bad result that follows an action
  • noun
  • /ˈpeɪˌɔf/
translation icon : recompensa
  • If everyone feels that they have a connection with the author, the payoff is tremendous.
  • a long-term payoff
  • a real payoff
  • a high payoff

Or what is my payoff for not doing it?

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Examples

  • For the students, this will have great payoff in both learning and applying the required skills.

    Academic text (2015)
  • It's a lot of work, but the payoff is tremendous.

  • But I could see where the payoff could, could be massive.

  • And as a result, the payoff is just wonderful.

  • Those are small costs, small prices to pay when the payoff would be saving a child.

  • The consumer may form an expectation of the payoff of an investment.

    Academic text (1991)
  • There's no short term payoff that we're looking for.

  • That's when the real payoff happens.

  • What is the societal payoff to having a large number of people living below the poverty line?

    Academic text (2002)
  • After years of dedication and hard work, she finally received the payoff for her efforts when her promotion was announced.

Synonyms

reward
vspayoff
601 1.3

Something given to a person to thank them for doing something good

also covers punishments or neutral results, not only positive returns
penalty
vspayoff
160 2.9

A sum of money you must pay for breaking a contract

is broader, not limited to monetary punishments and includes rewards
bounty
vspayoff
147 5.5

A payment given for doing something such as catching a criminal

is broader, including nonpaid and punitive results as well
payback
vspayoff
  • Offensive
118 5.5

Harming someone to punish them for something they did

can mean revenge but also neutral or positive results after actions
retribution
vspayoff
87 7.5

Punishment people give because someone did something wrong and others think it is fair

is broader, including rewards and other kinds of results after actions
payment
vspayoff
51 1.0

Something done or given to return help and make up for harm

is broader, applying to rewards, punishments, or other resulting outcomes
payout
vspayoff
48 3.4

An amount of money paid to someone as a reward, compensation, or winnings

is not limited to money and can include punishments or nonfinancial results
reprisal
vspayoff
  • Formal
37 8.3

An action that hurts someone in return for an attack

is broader, encompassing nonhostile results as well as retaliatory ones
reparation
vspayoff
19 6.8

Giving money or help to make up for a wrong

covers that amending sense but also includes punishments or general rewards
tit for tat
vspayoff
  • Informal
12 5.8

An action done to hurt someone because they hurt you

is more general, applying to any outcome, not only tit-for-tat responses
comeuppance
vspayoff
11 9.1

A punishment someone deserves for bad actions

is wider, able to mean either a deserved reward or a punishment
due
vspayoff
9 3.4

Something a person deserves for their actions

is wider, including both deserved rewards and punishments after actions
recompense
vspayoff
8 7.7

Money given to make up for loss, harm, or effort

is more general, also including punishments as possible outcomes
wages
vspayoff
  • Literature
1 6.3

A result someone gets for good or bad actions

is broader, covering any reward, punishment, or result after an action
requital
vspayoff
  • Formal
1 9.5

Giving back a favor or returning harm in the same way

is more general, including one-sided rewards or punishments without reciprocity

How Significant

windfall
35 5.1
to reward
328 1.3
payoff
31 3.8
result
1.0
minor detail
6 3.2

Surface Forms

payoff singular
payoffs plural

Morphology

payoff = pay + off (transparent) = pay + off

Formed from the verb 'pay' + the particle 'off' (as in the phrasal verb 'pay off'); the noun meanings are direct extensions referring to payments or the results of paying.

Etymology

Payoff comes from the simple parts pay ('give money') and off ('completely' or 'away'), and people used it for the final thing you get after effort. So, a payoff is the result or reward that follows hard work or a decision.