Payee

ˌpeɪˈiː

nounBeginnerCommonGeneral

Definitions

1

A person or organization to whom money is paid.

ˌpeɪˈiː

nounneutralBeginner
General

The person or entity to whom money is paid.

The payee on the check was her landlord.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're getting paid. The payee is the person whose name is going on the check. They're the ones *receiving* the money!

👶 For kids: The payee is the person who gets the money!

More Examples

2

The company sent the payment to the payee's designated bank account.

3

Please ensure the correct payee is listed on the invoice.

How It's Used

Finance

"The bank requires the payee's name and address for the check."

Legal

"The court ordered the defendant to list the payee for the restitution payment."

From 'pay' + '-ee', a suffix denoting the recipient of an action. The term evolved from financial contexts.

The term 'payee' has been used in financial contexts since at least the late 19th century, its usage mirroring the rise of formal banking and payment systems.

Memory tip

Think of the person at the 'pay' window—they are the payee.

Word Origin

Root: pay

payie

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written