在国际上，对这三个概念比较权威的机构是国际清算银行的支付结算委员会。在其《Core Principles for Systemically Important Payment Systems》报告中，对这几个概念进行了界定：
支付（payment）：是付款人向收款人转移可以接受的货币债权的过程（The payer’s transfer of a monetary claim on a party acceptable to the beneficiary）
清算（clearing）：是结算前计算、核对和确认付款的过程（The process of transmitting,reconciling and,in some cases,confirming payments prior to settlement,possibly including the netting of payments and the establishment of net positions for settlement。）
结算（settlement）：是两个或者多个交易对手之间完成债权最终执行的过程。（An act that discharges financial obligations between two or more parties.）（此处原文解释。放出来让你们自己看，免得我翻译错了）
