Hush money

Hush money is an arrangement in which one person or party offers another money or other enticement, in exchange for remaining silent about some illegal, stigmatized, or shameful behavior, action, or other fact about the person or party who has made the offer. It can also be money paid to placate a disgruntled adversary who may disclose embarrassing information, even if untrue, to avoid the harm and trouble of dealing with defamation.