1. a person whose job is to pay wages or salaries to employees
2. a person or organization that provides money or financial support, especially one that controls how the money is used
Usage: often implies control or influence

Examples

• The company’s paymaster distributed checks every Friday afternoon.
• As the regiment’s paymaster, he was responsible for soldiers’ wages.
• The wealthy donor became the paymaster for the political campaign.
• She worked as a paymaster at the construction site for five years.
• The union demanded to meet with the paymaster about delayed payments.
• He who pays the piper calls the tune – the paymaster always has influence.