Meanings
nounpay-as-you-go (uncountable)
- uncountableeconomicsA financial policy by which capital projects are financed from current revenue in the operating budget rather than through borrowing.
- UKuncountableA payment method where the charge of a service is taken automatically, usually in small amounts, after the usage, in contrast of paying before usage. Used especially of mobile phones and transport ticketing.
From January 2, passengers will be able to use contactless pay-as-you-go between London and Reading.
2020 January 2, “First official Transport for London trains operate to Reading”, in RAIL, page 10
Synonyms & antonyms
Similar
antonym(s) of “payment method”
Origin
From pay + as you go (“while one progresses”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 量入為出 /量入为出, 後付費 /后付费
- 量入為出 /量入为出 (liàngrùwéichū)financial policy
- 後付費 /后付费payment method
Finnish tulorahoitus, ennalta maksettava
- tulorahoitusfinancial policy
- ennalta maksettavapayment method
- ennakkoon maksettavapayment method
- valmiiksi maksettavapayment method
French prépayé
- prépayépayment method
German Umlageverfahren, Umlagefinanzierung
- Umlageverfahrenfinancial policy
- Umlagefinanzierungfinancial policy
- Prepaid-Zahlungpayment method
- Guthabenabbuchungpayment method
Spanish prepago
- prepagopayment method
Cite this entry
APA
pay-as-you-go. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pay-as-you-go
MLA
“pay-as-you-go.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pay-as-you-go. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pay-as-you-go,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pay-as-you-go.
Source: pay-as-you-go on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.