Astroturfing

[ as-truh-turf-ing ]

noun

the act or process of installing Astroturf on a surface.
(usually lowercase) the deceptive tactic of simulating grassroots support for a product, cause, etc., undertaken by people or organizations with an interest in shaping public opinion: In some countries astroturfing is banned, and this includes sponsored blog posts.

Origin of Astroturfing

First recorded in 1970–75; Astroturf + -ing¹

Other words from Astroturfing

as·tro·turf·er, noun

Words Nearby Astroturfing

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for astroturfing

astroturfing

/ (ˈæstrəʊˌtɜːfɪŋ) /

noun

a PR tactic used in politics and advertising in which actors are paid to display overt and apparently spontaneous grassroots support for a particular product, policy, or event

Origin of astroturfing

C21: from Astroturf, the artificial grass, as this is artifical grassroots support

Derived forms of astroturfing

astroturfer, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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