From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
payoff \payoff\ n.
1. profit or gain from an action; -- used broadly; as, lots
of effort with little payoff.
[PJC]
2. retribution, payback.
[PJC]
3. The act of giving or receiving money or other valuable
consideration as a bribe.
Syn: bribe.
[PJC]
4. The money or item given as a bribe.
[PJC]
5. same as compensation 2.
Syn: compensation, remuneration, recompense.
[PJC]
6. The climax or final result of an event or endeavor; the
denoument of a narrative.
[PJC]