1 : a good result : the advantage or benefit that is gained from doing something [count] ▪ You'll have to work hard but there'll be a big/large payoff in the end. ▪ We expected more of a payoff for all our hard work. ▪ What's the payoff? [noncount] ▪ We made a lot of sacrifices with little payoff. 2 [count] : something valuable (such as money) that you give to someone for doing something and especially for doing something illegal or dishonest : bribe
▪ Several city officials have been accused of receiving payoffs from the company. 3 [count] Brit : money that a company gives to a worker who is being forced to leave a job
▪ He lost his factory job but received a payoff and a pension. — see also pay off at ¹pay