Astroturfing

[ as-truh-turf-ing ]

noun

1. the act or process of installing Astroturf on a surface.
2. (usually lowercase) the deceptive tactic of simulating grassroots support for a product, cause, etc., undertaken by people or organizations with an interest in shaping public opinion:

   In some countries astroturfing is banned, and this includes sponsored blog posts.

astroturfing

/ ˈæstrəʊˌtɜːfɪŋ /

noun

1. a PR tactic used in politics and advertising in which actors are paid to display overt and apparently spontaneous grassroots support for a particular product, policy, or event

Derived Forms

• ˈastroˌturfer, noun

Other Words From

• astro·turfer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Astroturfing¹

First recorded in 1970–75; Astroturf + -ing ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of Astroturfing¹

C21: from Astroturf , the artificial grass, as this is artifical grassroots support