noun

shill

shihl

noun

Someone paid to promote or endorse something while pretending to be an impartial customer.

"The reviews turned out to be written by paid shills."

An accomplice who bids up prices at an auction or lures players into a gambling game.

"The shill kept raising his hand to drive up the bidding."

verb

To promote something in exchange for payment, especially dishonestly.

"The influencer was accused of shilling a worthless cryptocurrency."

How to Use Shill

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who secretly gets paid to talk up a product or service as if they genuinely love it.

Common mistake

Often used online as an insult toward anyone seen as overly promoting something, even without proof of payment.

Common pairings

shill for a paid shill

shilled past tense, shilled past tense, shilled past tense, shills plural, Shills plural, shills singular, shills singular, shills singular

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The reviews turned out to be written by paid _____.

Origin uncertain; first recorded in early 20th-century American carnival slang for a planted audience member.

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shillaber