pay-to-play

[pley-tuh-pley]

adjective

1. relating to or denoting the policy or practice of paying a fee to play a game at the time the game is played.

   If you can’t afford a club membership, find a place that offers pay-to-play handball.

2. relating to or denoting an unethical or illicit arrangement in which payment is made by those who want certain privileges or advantages in such arenas as business, politics, sports, and entertainment.

   a pay-to-play system encouraged by drug corporations.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pay-to-play¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

A 2023 state law bans such “pay-to-play” arrangements — but college officials say it is difficult to enforce and the law is vague about what exactly is forbidden.

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The lawyers’ request for the $50,000 bond came in a Washington federal court filing, and it’s a startling example of “pay-to-play” justice.

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Page had led a bipartisan bloc on the County Council against Stenger, who was sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for a pay-to-play scheme that steered county contracts to political donors.

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Pay-to-play is a custom where fledgling artists are given a set number of tickets they have for pre-sale in order to perform at a venue.

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According to Ortiz, the idea to create a space for “real ones” was born in the spring of 2022 as a counter to L.A.’s notoriously predatory “pay-to-play” live music scene.

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When To Use

What does pay-to-play mean?

Pay-to-play refers to situations where one must exchange money to engage in an activity or to earn favors or influence.