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Payola

6 lettersnounmoderate

Updated June 2026

Definition

A secret payment or bribe made to a broadcaster or media personality to secure favourable coverage or airplay for a commercial product.

The record company was investigated for payola after several DJs were found to have received cash inducements.

Pronunciation

Syllables

pay·o·la

Related Words

Synonyms

bribekickbackinducement

Word Game Tips

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Wordle

Ends in OLA with a PAY start and no repeated letters, containing three vowels for useful early mapping

🔤

Scrabble

Worth 11 points with Y scoring 4 points and the OLA ending an uncommon but hookable suffix

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Dictionary References

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