propaganda

American  

[prop-uh-gan-duh] / ˌprɒp əˈgæn də /

noun

1. information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.

2. the deliberate spreading of such information, rumors, etc.

3. the particular doctrines or principles propagated by an organization or movement.

4. Roman Catholic Church.

   1. a committee of cardinals, established in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV, having supervision over foreign missions and the training of priests for these missions.

   2. a school College of Propaganda established by Pope Urban VIII for the education of priests for foreign missions.

5. Archaic. an organization or movement for the spreading of propaganda.

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propaganda ¹ British  

/ ˌprɒpəˈɡændə /

noun

1. the organized dissemination of information, allegations, etc, to assist or damage the cause of a government, movement, etc

2. such information, allegations, etc

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Propaganda ² British  

/ ˌprɒpəˈɡændə /

noun

1. RC Church a congregation responsible for directing the work of the foreign missions and the training of priests for these

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propaganda Cultural  

1. Official government communications to the public that are designed to influence opinion. The information may be true or false, but it is always carefully selected for its political effect.

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Other Word Forms

• propagandism noun
• propagandist noun

Etymology

Origin of propaganda

First recorded in 1710–20; from New Latin, short for congregātiō dē propāgandā fidē “congregation for propagating the faith”; propāgandā, ablative singular feminine gerundive of propāgāre; propagate

Example Sentences

The Frankfurt-based Anne Frank Educational Centre warned of a "flood" of AI-generated content and propaganda "in which the Holocaust is denied or trivialised, with its victims ridiculed".

From Barron's

So we see the propaganda methods that are repeated.

From Salon

Even in an age of misinformation and disinformation — which we really need to start clearly calling propaganda — we continue to rely on old ways of knowing.

From Los Angeles Times

"France's propaganda was very powerful," she told AFP, adding that in school she had only learned about the tests' positive economic impact for France's South Pacific islands and atolls.

From Barron's

Falsified images and propaganda have been misleading people to worse ends for many years, but these recent shams are evidence of a culture-wide abandonment of a common reality.

From Salon

Related Words

• disinformation
• hype
• indoctrination
• publicity