propaganda

[prop-uh-gan-duh]

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.

Propaganda

¹

/ ˌprɒpəˈɡændə /

noun

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

propaganda

²

/ 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

propaganda

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.

Other Word Forms

• propagandism noun
• propagandist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of propaganda¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of propaganda¹

C18: from Italian, use of propāgandā in the New Latin title Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide Sacred Congregation for Propagating the Faith

Example Sentences

“Since legacy media propaganda is considered a ‘valid’ source by Wikipedia, it naturally simply becomes an extension of legacy media propaganda!” he posted in January.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The Chinese Communist Party relies on anti-Japanese propaganda as one of its favorite tools for mobilizing the masses.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Online safety experts say AI churning out questionable stories, propaganda and ads is drowning out human-generated content in some cases, and worsening the information ecosystem.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem shared a propaganda video of the raid which featured dramatic music and images of the helicopters and their searchlights, ICE agents kicking down doors, and people being led away under arrest.

Read more on Salon

His vision of power, propaganda and language as a weapon meets a barrage of torn-from-the-news imagery: refugees adrift on boats, authoritarian leaders twisting the truth, AI hallucinations blurring what’s left of reality.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• disinformation 
• hype 
• indoctrination 
• publicity