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payola

[ pey-oh-luh ]
/ peɪˈoʊ lə /
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noun Informal.
a secret or private payment in return for the promotion of a product, service, etc., through the abuse of one's position, influence, or facilities.
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Origin of payola

An Americanism dating back to 1935–40; pay1 + -ola
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use payola in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for payola

payola
/ (peɪˈəʊlə) /

noun informal, mainly US
a bribe given to secure special treatment, esp to a disc jockey to promote a commercial product
the practice of paying or receiving such bribes

Word Origin for payola

C20: from pay 1 + -ola, as in Pianola
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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