clickthrough: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumProfessional, technical (digital marketing, web analytics, UX design)
Quick answer
What does “clickthrough” mean?
The action of a user clicking on a hyperlink or online advertisement, which takes them to a new web page.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The action of a user clicking on a hyperlink or online advertisement, which takes them to a new web page.
A metric or measurement of user engagement with a digital link, often expressed as a rate (clickthrough rate). Also used attributively to describe elements designed to generate such clicks.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Hyphenation ('click-through') is slightly more common in British English style guides, while the closed form is more prevalent in American tech contexts.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties, denoting a technical action or metric.
Frequency
Equally frequent in professional digital contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “clickthrough” in a Sentence
Noun + of + (the) link/adAdjective + noun (clickthrough rate)Verb + (the) clickthrough (e.g., track, measure, increase)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “clickthrough” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Users must click through to the full article.
- The banner invited viewers to click through for more details.
American English
- Make sure users can click through to the product page.
- The email CTA button is designed to get people to click through.
adverb
British English
- The link was placed prominently, encouraging users to go clickthrough.
- (Rare as adverb; typically phrased as 'click through')
American English
- The instructions ask you to go clickthrough to the next step.
- (Rare as adverb; typically 'click through')
adjective
British English
- Our click-through rate has improved this quarter.
- The advert had a poor clickthrough performance.
American English
- The clickthrough data is in the analytics dashboard.
- We ran an A/B test on the clickthrough button color.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Critical metric in digital marketing for measuring ad and campaign effectiveness.
Academic
Used in studies on user behavior, online communication, and human-computer interaction.
Everyday
Rare; might be used by bloggers or small business owners discussing website stats.
Technical
Fundamental term in web analytics, SEO, and UX design platforms and reports.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “clickthrough”
Strong
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “clickthrough”
- Using 'click' when 'clickthrough' is needed to specify the completed journey (e.g., 'We had 100 clicks' vs. 'We had 100 clickthroughs to the checkout').
- Misspelling as 'click thru' in formal contexts.
- Treating it as only a verb. While 'click through' is a phrasal verb, 'clickthrough' as one word is a noun/adjective.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'clickthrough' (closed) and 'click-through' (hyphenated) are accepted. The hyphenated form is often preferred in formal writing, while the closed form is common in tech and marketing jargon.
A 'click' is the simple action of pressing a mouse button. A 'clickthrough' implies the successful result of that click: the user is taken through to the intended destination page. In analytics, they are often used interchangeably, but 'clickthrough' emphasises the completed journey.
As a single word, it's primarily a noun/adjective. The verb form is the phrasal verb 'click through' (two words). For example: 'Please click through to confirm your account.'
A 'good' CTR varies massively by industry, platform, and ad type. For example, average email CTRs might be 2-3%, while search ad CTRs can be higher. It is a relative metric best used for comparing the performance of different campaigns or elements.
The action of a user clicking on a hyperlink or online advertisement, which takes them to a new web page.
Clickthrough is usually professional, technical (digital marketing, web analytics, ux design) in register.
Clickthrough: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklɪkθruː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklɪkˌθruː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The golden clickthrough (mythical ideal engagement rate)”
- “Chasing clickthroughs (focusing excessively on clicks)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of clicking THROUGH a doorway (the link) to get to the other side (the new webpage).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE INTERNET IS A SPACE / NAVIGATION IS MOVEMENT THROUGH SPACE. Clicking is the physical action that propels you through the digital landscape.
Practice
Quiz
In digital marketing, a 'clickthrough' specifically refers to: