payola

noun

pay·​o·​la pā-ˈō-lə How to pronounce payola (audio)
: undercover or indirect payment (as to a disc jockey) for a commercial favor (as for promoting a particular recording)

Examples of payola in a Sentence

These radio disc jockeys accepted payola to play particular songs. payola in the music industry
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Refresh for more…No payola going on here, just pure ticket sales around the world. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 17 May 2026 That money shifts college sports even further away from purity and closer to payola. — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2025 These days, payola takes different shapes, but each practice amounts to a form of payment to twist public perception and secure an unfair advantage. — Kyle Eustice, VIBE.com, 30 Mar. 2026 When the American Bandstand host was swept up in a radio payola scandal in 1959 and called to testify before Congress, Shalit dropped him. — Chris Koseluk, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for payola

Word History

Etymology

pay entry 1 + -ola (as in Pianola, trademark for a player piano)

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of payola was in 1938

Rhymes for payola

See All Rhymes for payola

Browse Nearby Words

pay off
payola
pay one's dues
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Payola.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/payola. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

payola

noun
pay·​o·​la pā-ˈō-lə How to pronounce payola (audio)
: a secret or indirect payment (as to a disc jockey) for a commercial favor (as for promoting a particular record)

More from Merriam-Webster on payola

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about payola

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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