clickbait

American  

[klik-beyt] / ˈklɪkˌbeɪt /

noun

1. a sensationalized headline or piece of text on the internet designed to entice people to follow a link to an article on another web page.

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adjective

1. noting or relating to such internet content.

   Clickbait articles contribute to the online visibility of the news website.

Usage

What does clickbait mean? Clickbait describes misleading internet content or shocking headline titles that aim to drive traffic to a website.

Etymology

Origin of clickbait

First recorded in 1995–2000; click ¹ (in the computer sense) + bait

Example Sentences

Tell me you’ll walk away from clickbait and focus on sober, steady governing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

And now it’s escalated by the talking heads on TikTok that need clickbait.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

"I felt like they were using my speech for clickbait, and that's not what I'm about at all," she said.

From BBC • Sep. 24, 2025

That realization produced a lot of shocking clickbait, and it also lent the season a weight that offset the kookiness inherent to any mega-celebrity’s wellness venture.

From Salon • Aug. 24, 2025

The bloggers and columnists, clickbait news sites, and social media influencers promise forensic detail: the way clothes move, the anatomy of the pregnant body, the tone of her denials, the baby’s resemblances.

From Slate • Jul. 21, 2025