paywall

noun

pay·​wall ˈpā-ˌwȯl How to pronounce paywall (audio)
: a system that prevents Internet users from accessing certain web content without a paid subscription

Examples of paywall in a Sentence

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.
The article is behind a paywall, so that’s where the trail ends. — John Werner, Forbes.com, 15 June 2026 How much will be behind the paywall of the Paramount-Warner app? — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 15 May 2026 There are no subscriptions, no trial periods, and no paywalls between a scan and a deliverable. — New Atlas, 8 June 2026 The show, which was initially released behind a paywall on the VidAngel platform, struggled to find an audience. — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 25 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for paywall

Word History

Etymology

pay entry 1 + firewall

First Known Use

2004, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of paywall was in 2004

Rhymes for paywall

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Browse Nearby Words

pay up
paywall
pay with one's life
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Paywall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paywall. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

paywall

noun
pay·​wall ˈpā-ˌwȯl How to pronounce paywall (audio)
: a system that prevents Internet users from accessing certain Web content without a paid subscription
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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