campaign

American  

[kam-peyn] / kæmˈpeɪn /

noun

1. the competition by rival political candidates and organizations for public office.

2. a systematic course of aggressive activities for some specific purpose.

   a sales campaign.

   Synonyms:

   offensive, push, effort, drive

3. Military.

   1. military operations for a specific objective.

   2. Obsolete. the military operations of an army in the field for one season.

4. a story in a role-playing game, spread out over multiple play sessions, that usually keeps the same plot, setting, or main characters.

   Last week we finished our campaign and I already miss it.

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verb (used without object)

1. to serve in or go on a campaign.

   He planned to campaign for the candidate.

   My daughter has been campaigning for a later curfew for months.

verb (used with object)

1. to race (a horse, boat, car, etc.) in a number or series of competitions.

campaign British  

/ kæmˈpeɪn /

noun

1. a series of coordinated activities, such as public speaking and demonstrating, designed to achieve a social, political, or commercial goal

   a presidential campaign

   an advertising campaign

2. military a number of complementary operations aimed at achieving a single objective, usually constrained by time or geographic area

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verb

1. to conduct, serve in, or go on a campaign

Other Word Forms

• campaigner noun
• countercampaign noun
• precampaign noun
• recampaign verb
• uncampaigning adjective

Etymology

Origin of campaign

First recorded in 1620–30; from French campagne, from Italian campagna, from Late Latin campānia “level district,” equivalent to Latin camp(us) “field” + -ān(us) -an + -ia -ia

Example Sentences

Azam Jangravi, an activist who fled Iran after protesting against the compulsory veil, said she initially favored the bombing campaign that targeted Iran’s leaders and security forces.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

That won't be announced until towards the end of May but we already have a pretty good idea of the contenders, based on players' performances so far this campaign.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

The president is still signaling a desire to end the campaign against Iran in two to three weeks.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

Still, markets and the U.S. economy could be relatively unscathed if the American military campaign brings Iran to the negotiating table, Beaulieu at Conning said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 2, 2026

His plan was to show Republican leaders that he was a valuable asset to the campaign.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

Related Words

• crusade
• drive
• fight
• movement
• offensive
• operation
• push