clickbait

[ klik-beyt ]

noun

1. a sensationalized headline or piece of text on the internet designed to entice people to follow a link to an article on another web page.

adjective

1. noting or relating to such internet content:

   Clickbait articles contribute to the online visibility of the news website.

Word History and Origins

Origin of clickbait¹

First recorded in 1995–2000; click ¹ (in the computer sense) + bait

Example Sentences

Clickbait title notwithstanding, Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!

From The Daily Beast

Whenever I take a clickbait quiz to determine which of The Avengers I would be, I always game the questions to aim for the Hulk.

From The Daily Beast

However, Mizrahi is less certain that clickbait culture will fade away in the near future.

From The Daily Beast

But as the increasing backlash against clickbait shows, the short-term gains in unique views may cost news sites in the long run.

From The Daily Beast

This growing clickbait awareness may ultimately cost news agencies that are gunning for short-term gains.

From The Daily Beast