sponsored content

American  

[spon-serd kon-tent] / ˈspɒn sərd ˈkɒn tɛnt /

noun

1. advertising that a brand pays an online publisher to create and seamlessly integrate, conforming to the design, format, and content of the website or social media feed where it is published.

   It’s hard to distinguish your search results from sponsored content, so you have to pay attention to what you’re clicking.

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Etymology

Origin of sponsored content

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

The extent of Reaves’ social media usage is his long-time friend Trent Swaim posting golfing videos on the duo’s “Hillbilly Bogey” accounts and Reaves asking his representatives to post sponsored content for his endorsement deals.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

OpenAI also recently introduced ads into the chatbot for free and Go users, leading to concerns that higher-paid tiers might eventually see sponsored content.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

Traditional search engines usually give less weight to sponsored content: articles or blog posts that a company pays for but that look like regular editorial content.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

Beyond OpenAI, Microsoft has been running contextual ads and sponsored content in its Copilot AI assistant since 2023.

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026

These creator programs - which reward users for likes, comments and shares, and allow them to post sponsored content - have been linked to its rise.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2024