publicity

[puh-blis-i-tee]

noun

1. extensive mention in the news media or by word of mouth or other means of communication.

2. public notice so gained.

3. the measures, process, or business of securing public notice.

4. information, articles, or advertisements issued to secure public notice or attention.

5. the state of being public, or open to general observation or knowledge.

publicity

/ pʌˈblɪsɪtɪ /

noun

1. 1. the technique or process of attracting public attention to people, products, etc, as by the use of the mass media

   2. ( as modifier )

      a publicity agent

2. public interest resulting from information supplied by such a technique or process

3. information used to draw public attention to people, products, etc

4. the state of being public

Other Word Forms

• nonpublicity noun
• overpublicity noun
• propublicity adjective
• superpublicity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of publicity¹

1785–95; < French publicité < Medieval Latin pūblicitās. See public, -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of publicity¹

C18: via French from Medieval Latin pūblicitās; see _public

Example Sentences

Legacy marketing and publicity firms are buying or building equivalents such as Edelman’s Gen Z Lab.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The publicity campaign drew protests earlier this year from Arsenal fans critical of Rwanda’s intervention in Congo.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Israeli authorities said they enforced a legal blockade and called the flotilla a "publicity stunt" because it was transporting only two tons of aid in total.

Read more on BBC

There are few roles in horse racing, besides trainer or jockey, that Siegel didn’t perform since he first got a job in the publicity department at Hollywood Park in 1974.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"The difference,” says entertainment journalist Natalie Jamieson, “is that those events tend not to be disclosed, or receive such publicity. The outrage is happening now because this is happening so publicly."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• attention 
• clout 
• commercial 
• distribution 
• fame 
• hoopla 
• hype 
• noise 
• notoriety 
• propaganda