Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A feature of a website that denies access to certain content to users who have not paid to view it.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun informal, computing A feature of a website, application or service that only allows access to certain pages, data or features to paid up subscribers.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[pay + (fire)wall.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

pay +‎ wall, by analogy with firewall

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Examples

  • A paywall is fine, if he thinks that will work for his [...] [Read more →]

    2009 December 2009

  • Hidden behind the WSJ's stupid paywall is this wonderful piece by Ian Mount about rare, "lost" art-films resurfacing at online video sites like Google and YouTube -- and some ensuing copyright squabbles:

    Boing Boing: July 9, 2006 - July 15, 2006 Archives 2006

  • No, people are using the word paywall inappropriately.

    MetaFilter 2010

  • No, people are using the word paywall inappropriately.

    MetaFilter 2010

  • No, people are using the word paywall inappropriately.

    Original Signal - Transmitting Buzz 2010

  • The has changed the so-called paywall debate: suddenly, the topic doesn't seem to be Times doesn't want to call it a "paywall", but ...

    WN.com - Business News 2010

  • It is also an emphasis on pay-TV that is catching, with the company successfully forcing local US network owners to pay Fox re-transmission fees – and, indeed, the much-discussed paywall, which is most easily understood as a hopeful attempt to turn the Times into a subscription business.

    James Murdoch's move hints at next chapter for News Corp 2011

  • Recently, The New York Times established what's called a paywall.

    Abundance of Digital Info Could Signal End of Newspapers 2011

  • Times Co. said more than 100,000 people signed up for new digital subscriptions, after it introduced a so-called paywall March 28.

    BusinessWeek.com -- Top News 2011

  • Shares may also get a bump when the company reports the results of its so-called "paywall," which sets barriers up around the company's Web and mobile products to encourage readers to sign up and pay for subscriptions, said Citi analyst Leo Kulp.

    unknown title 2011

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  • A feature of a website that only allows access to certain pages or data to paid up subscribers taken from wiktionary

    August 15, 2009