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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.


Etymology

Origin of sponsored content

First recorded in 1990–95


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Typically, an influencer like Johnson will post sponsored content for a monetary fee; Johnson says he charges $20,000 to $25,000 for a standard post.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

But the partnership unraveled when Arena used AI for sponsored content on Sports Illustrated’s website, which sounded alarm bells at the esteemed publication.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 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

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

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