1. people or organizations that pay wages or salaries to employees
2. people or organizations that provide financial support and therefore have influence or control
Usage: often implies hidden or improper influence

Examples

• The company’s paymasters decided to freeze salaries this year.
• Military paymasters distributed wages to the soldiers every month.
• The politician’s real paymasters were revealed in the investigation.
• Corporate paymasters often influence political decisions behind the scenes.
• The union demanded to meet with the paymasters directly.
• Many suspected that foreign paymasters were funding the organization.