promotion

American  

[pruh-moh-shuhn] / prəˈmoʊ ʃən /

noun

1. advancement in rank or position.

2. furtherance or encouragement.

3. the act of promoting.

4. the state of being promoted.

5. something devised to publicize or advertise a product, cause, institution, etc., as a brochure, free sample, poster, television or radio commercial, or personal appearance.

6. 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.

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Other Word Forms

• nonpromotion
  noun
• prepromotion
  noun
• promotional
  adjective
• self-promotion
  noun
• unpromotional
  adjective

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.

Example Sentences

She earned her Ph.D. from Chulalongkorn University in 2001 and later completed postdoctoral research with the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, JAPAN.

From Science Daily • Jan. 13, 2026

Pankaj Chadha, chairman of the Engineering Export Promotion Council, said diversification had become a necessity to lessen dependence on the "biggest and the most lucrative" market.

From Barron's • Jan. 11, 2026

The Japan Tea Export Promotion Council estimates that the total volume of tea exports increased by 154% in 2024 compared with a decade earlier.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2025

Appeared in the October 21, 2025, print edition as 'Chicago’s Union Boss Gets a Promotion'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 20, 2025

“Antipoverty Worker Urges Promotion of Black Power,” shouted the headline in the state’s most important newspaper, the Raleigh News & Observer.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson