payoffs
Corruption money exchanged
Payoffs are returns on an investment or effort—the rewards that justify the work: The payoffs from learning a second language are enormous.
A payoff can also be a bribe or hush money: The politician received payoffs from contractors.
In game theory and economics, payoffs are the outcomes assigned to different choices in a strategic situation.
Indirect results of actions
- ramificationsResulting effects or outcomes
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- aftermathResults following an event
- blowbackUnintended negative consequences
results · effects · outcomes · tradeoffs · costs · downsides · risks · benefits
Accumulated gambling prize
- wagerStake on uncertainty
- oddsLikelihood expressed numerically
- stakesPosts or wagers
- payoutMoney distributed to recipient
winnings · betting · slot-machine · lottery · progressive · house-edge · sportsbook · longshot
Profits from investments
- dividendsProfits paid to shareholders
- yieldProduce or relinquish
- earningsMoney gained from work
- profitGain exceeding expenditure
interest · ROI · appreciation · maturity · annuity · coupon · principal · growth
Illegal payment for services
- backhanderSecret illicit payment
- payolaBribes for airplay
- under-the-tableSecret and unofficial
- graftIllicit political gain
shakedown · sweetener · baksheesh · dash · envelope · fix · buyoff
Reward beyond expectation
- incentiveReward encouraging action
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- payoutMoney distributed to recipient
- prizeReward for winning
windfall · benefit · gain · perquisite · commission · bounty · severance · spiff
Resolved dispute or colony
- verdictOfficial court decision
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- conclusionEnd or deduction
- closureSense of emotional resolution
outcome · buyout · lump-sum · negotiated · arbitration · mediation · compensation · restitution
repercussions
Indirect results of actions
- ramificationsResulting effects or outcomes
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- aftermathResults following an event
blowback · results · effects · outcomes · tradeoffs · costs · downsides · risks · benefits · implications
jackpot
Accumulated gambling prize
payout · winnings · betting · slot-machine · lottery · progressive · house-edge · sportsbook · longshot · parlay
returns
Profits from investments
profit · interest · ROI · appreciation · maturity · annuity · coupon · principal · growth · portfolio
kickback
Illegal payment for services
- backhanderSecret illicit payment
- payolaBribes for airplay
- under-the-tableSecret and unofficial
graft · shakedown · sweetener · baksheesh · dash · envelope · fix · buyoff
bonus
Reward beyond expectation
- incentiveReward encouraging action
- compensationPayment for services rendered
- payoutMoney distributed to recipient
prize · windfall · benefit · gain · perquisite · commission · bounty · severance · spiff
settlement
Resolved dispute or colony
- verdictOfficial court decision
- judgmentReasoned decision-making capacity
- conclusionEnd or deduction
closure · outcome · buyout · lump-sum · negotiated · arbitration · mediation · compensation · restitution · damages
- dirty moneydirty money, ill-gotten gains, illicit funds, illicit gains, proceeds of crime
- economicssupply and demand, inflation, GDP, GNP, gross domestic product
- corruptioncorruption, graft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes
- shady dealingsscams, swindles, cons, grifts, fraud
- influence peddlinginfluence peddling, backscratching, quid pro quo, kickbacks, lobbying
- secrecysecrecy, secret, secrets, confidential, classified
payoffslosses
Things subtracted from standing
costs · expenses · deficits · liabilities · debts
payoffsinitial investment
upfront costs · investments · seed money · startup costs · outlays
payoffsfair compensation
Appropriate payment for work
earned income · legal fees · whistleblowing · exposures · accountability