noun
payee
pay-EE
Payee (noun) means the person or organisation that money is paid to, especially the one named on a cheque, transfer or payment order. Example: “Write the payee's name in full on the cheque.”
noun
1
The person or organisation that money is paid to, especially the one named on a cheque, transfer or payment order.
"Write the payee's name in full on the cheque."
"The bank flagged the transfer because the payee details did not match the account name."
How to use payee
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe person getting the money.
When to use it
Standard in banking, legal and accounting contexts; rare in casual speech.
Memory tip
The -ee ending means the receiver, the -er ending means the doer: the payer pays the payee.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
named payee
payee details
add a payee
payee account
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Write the _____'s name in full on the cheque.
Etymology
From pay plus the suffix -ee, which marks the person on the receiving end of an action, as in employee and addressee.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for payee
See all rhymes for payee →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a payee and a payer?
The payer is the one sending the money and the payee is the one receiving it. On a cheque, the payer is the account holder who signs it and the payee is the name written on the 'pay to' line.
Is the payee the same as the beneficiary?
Often, but not always. The payee is whoever the payment is legally made out to; the beneficiary is whoever ultimately benefits from it. A payment can go to a trustee as payee for the benefit of someone else.
What does 'add a payee' mean in online banking?
It means saving someone's account details in your banking app so you can send them money without re-entering the numbers each time. Banks usually verify the name against the account before allowing it.
What is the meaning of payee?
"payee" (noun) means the person or organisation that money is paid to, especially the one named on a cheque, transfer or payment order.
