pay ‧ o ‧ la /peɪˈəʊlə $ -ˈoʊlə/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable] especially American English informal
[ Date: 1900-2000 ; Origin: Probably from payoff ]
1 . the illegal practice of paying someone to use their influence to make people buy what your company is selling
2 . the money that is paid to someone to use their influence