Definition of "payback" []

• The return gained from or paid on an investment: "One problem with space ventures is that the up-front costs are enormous and the paybacks uncertain and far off at best” ( Eric Gelman). (noun)
• The return on an investment equal to the amount invested: expect a payback within six years. (noun)
• A benefit gained as the result of a previous action. (noun)
• The act or process of paying back. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Hey McCain payback is Hades AINT 'IT ... guess you republicans think you can do what ever the devil YOU want."
• "Can you give us some idea of what a hurdle race it is and I guess you used the term payback, so if you can express it in."
• "This simple, yet profound shift away from short term ROI made it possible for companies to invest in ethical, sustainable improvements without the fear of having their programs axed for lack of short term payback."