promotion
Americannoun
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advancement in rank or position.
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furtherance or encouragement.
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the act of promoting.
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the state of being promoted.
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something devised to publicize or advertise a product, cause, institution, etc., as a brochure, free sample, poster, television or radio commercial, or personal appearance.
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Also called queening. Chess. the replacement of a pawn that has reached the enemy's first rank by a more powerful piece of the same color, usually a queen.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of promotion
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Late Latin prōmōtiōn-, stem of prōmōtiō “movement forward, advancement”; equivalent to promote + -ion
Explanation
A promotion is a raise in pay or stature, or it's a way to raise the profile or attention of something. If you create an advertising promotion that increases sales of spray jeans in a can, for example, you might get a promotion to company vice-president. Words that start with pro- usually hint at something positive or forward moving, and a promotion is a moving up or a motion forward. A product promotion pushes the item out in front so it gets more exposure, and a work or school promotion raises your salary or moves you up a grade. If you’re in the military a promotion means a higher rank, with more people under your command, and the same happens if you earn a promotion in a club or organization like the scouts.
Vocabulary lists containing promotion
"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney
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Check It Out, Mate: Chess Vocabulary
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This Week In Words: November 28–December 4, 2020
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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.
Tuchel heard about the promotion during one of his bar shifts and it knocked him sideways.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
Rannells: So much of the promotion of things that you work on now hinges on your participation in like, “Post this picture” or “Do this video” or “Do this thing.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
It was a fluke, but it led to the promotion of H.R.
From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026
Jones also sought Lord Mandelson's advice on promotion during last year's Cabinet reshuffle, sparked by Rayner's resignation as deputy prime minister and housing secretary over a tax row about unpaid stamp duty.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
“I wouldn’t be surprised if I got a promotion out of this when the Commissioner hears.”
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
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.
