Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
noun
Any kind of charge to engage in an activity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Any kind of charge to engage in an activity.
Campaign contributions (or outright bribes or graft) required to avail oneself of certain opportunities controlled by politicians, such as uncompetitive government contracts.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, especially, uncountable
Topics: government, politics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To incur a cost to participate in an activity; especially, in a corrupt way.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To incur a cost to participate in an activity; especially, in a corrupt way.
To make a campaign contribution or illegal payment to avail oneself of business or other opportunities controlled by politicians or civil servants.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, broadly, especially
Topics: government, politics
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see pay, to, play.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
From the sometime practice of charging a fee for admission to a gambling game.
