paywall

American  

[pey-wawl] / ˈpeɪˌwɔl /

Or pay wall

noun

1. a system in which access to all or part of a website is restricted to paid subscribers.

   Some newspapers have put their content behind a paywall.

2. the part of a website that can be accessed only by paid subscribers.

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verb (used with object)

1. to restrict access to (all or part of a website) to paid subscribers.

   Here’s an abstract, but the full article is paywalled.

Etymology

Origin of paywall

First recorded in 2005–10; pay ¹ + (fire)wall

Example Sentences

Newsletters offer a direct connection with readers as well as an opportunity to sell ads or include a paywall.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026

You’ll enjoy ad-free listening across the Slate network, early access to tickets for live events, and you’ll never hit the paywall on the site.

From Slate • Dec. 12, 2025

Management indicated that agentic functionality will sit behind a paywall with monetization via subscription tiers.

From Barron's • Dec. 6, 2025

Davidson referenced a New York Times article about trouble with their business venture, but said, “I cant spend $5 on a paywall when I have a kid on the way.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 9, 2025

The details were vague, and the majority of the article was hidden behind a paywall.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson