manifesto
Americannoun
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a public declaration of intentions, opinions, objectives, or motives, as one issued by a government, sovereign, or organization.
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a mission statement or other document written and disseminated by an individual or group to enumerate or expound the guiding principles and beliefs that inform their actions.
The mail bomber submitted his 35,000-word manifesto to two major national news publications.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of manifesto
First recorded in 1640–50; from Italian; see manifest (adjective)
Explanation
A manifesto is a public statement stating your views or your intention to do something. If you feel you should be voted "Most Likely to Succeed," you could issue a manifesto describing all the reasons why you deserve to win. Manifesto comes from the Italian word of the same spelling, meaning "public declaration explaining past actions and announcing the motive for forthcoming ones." You'll most often hear about a manifesto that's been issued by a group, like a political party or government — for example, a set of new rules that an incoming regime is going to enforce. Though organizations are more likely to create a manifesto, it's also possible for an individual to issue one about more personal ideas.
Vocabulary lists containing manifesto
This Week In Words: February 1–7, 2020
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Divergent
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Nelson Mandela "I am Prepared to Die" (1964)
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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.
Appeared in the May 28, 2026, print edition as 'Pope Leo’s AI Manifesto'.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
And he doesn’t seem to think too hard about any of his controversial decisions: He had a copy of Mein Kampf, he said, simply because he collects “historic books,” including The Communist Manifesto.
From Slate • Mar. 9, 2026
They premised their secret proposal, the Ostend Manifesto External link, on national defense.
From Barron's • Jan. 18, 2026
Evaristo's other books include satirical novel Blonde Roots and a memoir, Manifesto: On Never Giving Up.
From BBC • Jun. 3, 2025
At the time of the explosions, thousands of leaflets with the new MK Manifesto were circulated all over the country announcing the birth of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
