Payees

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Entities or individuals entitled to receive monetary compensation for services or goods provided
2. Parties recognized to gather payments or financial compensation as part of an agreement or exchange
3. Persons or organizations designated to receive funds or money transfers

Etymology: "Payees" is the plural of "payee," a noun formed from the verb "pay" and the suffix "-ee," which marks the person on the receiving end of an action, as in "employee" or "trustee." The verb "pay" descends from Latin "pacare," meaning "to pacify" or "appease," which itself comes from "pax," meaning peace. Old French turned it into "paier," and the sense moved from calming someone down to satisfying what was owed them. Settling a debt meant placating a creditor, and that is how handing over money came to be called paying.

Synonyms: recipients, beneficiaries, collectors, claimants, creditors