advertising

American  

[ad-ver-tahy-zing] / ˈæd vərˌtaɪ zɪŋ /

Or advertizing

noun

1. the act or practice of calling public attention to one's product, service, need, etc., especially by paid announcements in newspapers and magazines, over radio or television, on billboards, etc..

   to get more customers by advertising.

2. paid announcements; advertisements.

3. the profession of planning, designing, and writing advertisements.

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advertising British  

/ ˈædvəˌtaɪzɪŋ /

noun

1. the promotion of goods or services for sale through impersonal media, such as radio or television

2. the business that specializes in creating such publicity

3. advertisements collectively; publicity

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Other Word Forms

• counteradvertising noun
• proadvertising adjective
• proadvertizing adjective
• self-advertising adjective

Etymology

Origin of advertising

First recorded in 1520–30; advertise + -ing ¹

Explanation

Advertising is the act of drawing the public’s attention to something, usually to sell it. Whatever is written on the sandwich board you're wearing is what you're advertising. Advertising is getting the word out — whether it’s on a billboard, in a magazine ad, on a commercial, on the side of a blimp, or by singing it from the highest mountaintop. If you want to let people know about a product, service, or candidate, you run an advertising campaign. The word advertising may also be used for the advertisements themselves or the business of creating advertisements.

Example Sentences

Supporters of such laws argue that social media companies attract users with news stories and hoover up online advertising revenue that would otherwise go to struggling newsrooms.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

However, he argued that Domino’s had the profits and the advertising budget to outlast competitors that are leaning harder on discounting and, in turn, putting more pressure on their chains’ franchisees.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026

The party spent £33,572 for advertising on Meta between 20 March and 18 April, followed by Plaid Cymru, which spent £15,360.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

It automates high-frequency trades on Wall Street, optimizes global supply chains and powers the algorithms behind digital advertising.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

You don’t have to read it—I’m not asking that—but I would love to cost those publishing geniuses a few dollars, because, let’s face it, they’re not spending much on advertising my books.

From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman