paymaster

[pey-mas-ter, -mah-ster]

noun

1. a person authorized by a company, government, etc., to pay out wages or salaries, especially in the military.

paymaster

/ ˈpeɪˌmɑːstə /

noun

1. an official of a government, business, etc, responsible for the payment of wages and salaries

Other Word Forms

• paymastership noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of paymaster¹

First recorded in 1540–50; pay ¹ + master

Example Sentences

Susan Hall, leader of the City Hall Conservatives, said: "This is a mayor who will sacrifice London's precious green spaces to appease his Labour paymasters."

From BBC

Conservative paymaster general John Glen said high performance in Whitehall was not "recognised, rewarded or incentivised properly", and suggested linking civil service pay to performance.

From BBC

Her job begins by collecting wholesale consignments from her anonymous paymasters, which she then weighs into smaller packages and hides around the city for their customers.

From Salon

"Labour promised change, but in 10 short weeks all they've delivered is a change of clothes for themselves. Labour have made the political choice to put themselves and their union paymasters before the most vulnerable."

From BBC

The letter from shadow paymaster general John Glen asks whether the PM or his chief of staff, the former civil servant Sue Gray, had requested the pass for Lord Alli.

From BBC

Related Words

• accountant 
• clerk 
• teller