SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

pay-TV

noun \ ˈpā-ˈtē-ˈvē \

Definition of pay-TV

: a service providing noncommercial television programming (such as recent movies and entertainment specials) by means of a scrambled signal to subscribers who are provided with a decoder — called also pay television; compare pay-cable, subscription tv

See pay-TV defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of pay-tv

1954

PAY-TV Defined for English Language Learners

pay-TV

noun

Definition of pay-TV for English Language Learners

: television channels that you must order and pay for

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up pay-TV? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

headlong

play

without deliberation, pause, or delay

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Payton

pay tribute/homage to

pay-TV

pay up

paywall

Test Your Vocabulary

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Which of the following best describes an easily irritated person?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

alt-5ad8d3361fb97

Where 'Cliff-hangers' Come From

You're on the edge of your seat

alt-5ad77fad37d22

What the #@*% Is a ‘Grawlix'?

We can thank Beetle Bailey.

alt-5ad76a1542e73

'Altho' vs. 'Although'

Altho doesn't get much love.

alt-5ad635a571736

A Brief History of 'Potshot'

Duck, or you might be dinner

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally

Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz

cats-on-impossible-timber

More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz

True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game