payola

pay·ola
P3A1Y4O1L1A1
US/peɪˈoʊlə/UK/peɪˈəʊlə/

noun

A bribe given in exchange for a favor, such as one given in exchange for the promotion of goods or services (originally one given to a disk jockey to play a record).

UncommonScrabble 11
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Meanings

nounpayola (countable and uncountable, plural payolas)

plural payolas

  1. PhilippinesUScountableuncountableA bribe given in exchange for a favor, such as one given in exchange for the promotion of goods or services (originally one given to a disk jockey to play a record).

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
bribedashgratuitypay-off

Origin

Perhaps a blend of pay + Victrola, equivalent to pay + -ola.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish lahjus
  • lahjusbribe
Polish payola
  • payolabribe
Portuguese jabá
  • jabábribe

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with payola

MotorolaAngolacolaPensacolaviolalolaOsceolacanolaholaRollagondolanolabolagranolaTortolakolaebolamineolaIolamolaApalachicolagorgonzolaareolaHispaniola
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

payola. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/payola

MLA

“payola.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/payola. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “payola,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/payola.

Source: payola on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.