noun
shill
shihl
Shill (noun) means someone paid to promote or endorse something while pretending to be an impartial customer. Example: “The reviews turned out to be written by paid shills.”
noun
1
Someone paid to promote or endorse something while pretending to be an impartial customer.
"The reviews turned out to be written by paid shills."
2
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
1
To promote something in exchange for payment, especially dishonestly.
"The influencer was accused of shilling a worthless cryptocurrency."
How to use shill
Learner’s notesIn 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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like shill.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- shills
- Third person singular
- shills
- Past tense
- shilled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The reviews turned out to be written by paid _____.
Etymology
Origin uncertain; first recorded in early 20th-century American carnival slang for a planted audience member.
Class of 1900
shill joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for shill
See all rhymes for shill →Frequently asked questions
What does “shill” mean?
The word “shill” means someone paid to promote or endorse something while pretending to be an impartial customer. In plain terms, someone who secretly gets paid to talk up a product or service as if they genuinely love it.
How do you pronounce “shill”?
“Shill” is pronounced shihl (/ʃɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “shill” in a sentence?
Here is “shill” used in a sentence: “The reviews turned out to be written by paid shills.”
What is another word for “shill”?
Words with a similar meaning to “shill” include shillaber.
What part of speech is “shill”?
Depending on how it is used, “shill” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “shill” come from?
The word “shill” dates back to around 1900. Origin uncertain; first recorded in early 20th-century American carnival slang for a planted audience member.
How many meanings does “shill” have?
“Shill” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone paid to promote or endorse something while pretending to be an impartial customer.
