airplay

American

[air-pley] / ˈɛərˌpleɪ /

noun

the act or an instance of broadcasting recorded material over radio or television.

airplay British

/ ˈɛəˌpleɪ /

noun

(of recorded music) radio exposure

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of airplay

First recorded in 1965–70; air ¹ + play

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

BBC Introducing in Scotland plays a key role in supporting emerging artists by providing airplay, live performance opportunities and industry exposure.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

With more than 10 million combined sales and dominant airplay, “Hey Ya!” was one of the most ubiquitous songs of the decade.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2026

It also guaranteed the song extensive airplay, creating formative musical memories in the minds of a generation of gamers.

From New York Times • Nov. 19, 2024

“We haven’t had one,” Carney interrupts back at the Chateau, which is certainly untrue given that five of the band’s songs have topped Billboard’s alternative airplay chart.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2024

It's good enough for divvying up the royalties paid by musical rights societies for radio airplay and live performance.

From Ebooks: Neither E, Nor Books by Doctorow, Cory

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023