campaign

[ kam-peyn ]

noun

1. the competition by rival political candidates and organizations for public office.
2. a systematic course of aggressive activities for some specific purpose:

   a sales campaign.

   Synonyms: offensive, push, effort, drive

3. Military.
   1. military operations for a specific objective.
   2. Obsolete. the military operations of an army in the field for one season.
4. a story in a role-playing game, spread out over multiple play sessions, that usually keeps the same plot, setting, or main characters:

   Last week we finished our campaign and I already miss it.

verb (used without object)

1. to serve in or go on a campaign:

   He planned to campaign for the candidate.

   My daughter has been campaigning for a later curfew for months.

verb (used with object)

1. to race (a horse, boat, car, etc.) in a number or series of competitions.

campaign

/ kæmˈpeɪn /

noun

1. a series of coordinated activities, such as public speaking and demonstrating, designed to achieve a social, political, or commercial goal

   an advertising campaign

   a presidential campaign

2. military a number of complementary operations aimed at achieving a single objective, usually constrained by time or geographic area

verb

1. introften foll byfor to conduct, serve in, or go on a campaign

Derived Forms

• camˈpaigner, noun

Other Words From

• cam·paign·er noun
• coun·ter·cam·paign noun
• pre·cam·paign noun adjective
• re·cam·paign verb
• un·cam·paign·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of campaign¹

First recorded in 1620–30; from French campagne, from Italian campagna, from Late Latin campānia “level district,” equivalent to Latin camp(us) “field” + -ān(us) -an + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of campaign¹

C17: from French campagne open country, from Italian campagna, from Late Latin campānia, from Latin campus field

Example Sentences

These Democrats could vote against Nancy Pelosi, use it in their campaigns to say they’re not with her even though they vote with her 95 percent of the time.

From Washington Post

She declined to publicly name these Pence aides but said there was consistent pressure from Pence’s senior officials to focus more on the economy and the reelection campaign.

From Washington Post

The Biden campaign, by contrast, said 183,000 volunteers have joined the campaign since the start of August, with about 2,000 more coming on every day since.

From Washington Post

Conveniently, that information now turns up in a campaign ad.

From Washington Post

If a vaccine is swiftly approved, it could upend the campaign.

From Washington Post

The benefits of incumbency are quite potent, especially in the all-important area of raising campaign funds.

From The Daily Beast

The U.S. launched campaigns in the restive Iraqi city of Fallujah and a surge campaign in Baghdad.

From The Daily Beast

But the inability to measure progress in the ISIS campaign is widespread.

From The Daily Beast

The U.S. campaign against ISIS leans on two pillars: conducting airstrikes, and beefing up local forces.

From The Daily Beast

As she discussed her understanding of the voting rights campaign and how she planned to recreate it, I grew more relieved.

From The Daily Beast

Vain also was the valour and ability he showed in the campaign against the Royalists in La Vende.

From Project Gutenberg

But Polavieja started his campaign with the immense advantage of having the whole of the dry season before him.

From Project Gutenberg

At the end of the campaign the Emperor justly rewarded his lieutenant by creating him Prince of Wagram.

From Project Gutenberg

By the end of the campaign of 1796 he had proved that he was as great a chief of the staff as Bonaparte was a great commander.

From Project Gutenberg

But Ulm was only the commencement of the campaign, and even after Austerlitz Napoleon pursued the enemy with grim resolution.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• barnstorm
• lobby
• politick
• stump