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

Companies with authorized U.S. products have pledged to the FDA to avoid advertising to youth.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Supercharged and Hollywood inspired, the videos represent a brazen new era of fan-generated AI in political campaign advertising.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

It's a central fixture in his television and internet advertising campaigns.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

French advertising company Publicis reached a deal to acquire the data specialist for a total enterprise value of $2.2 billion.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

Nan picked up one advertising “10 great looks with one easy pattern!” and said, “It’s like an envelope full of options. You want it?”

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry