disinformation

[ dis-in-fer-mey-shuhn, dis-in- ]

/ dɪsˌɪn fərˈmeɪ ʃən, ˌdɪs ɪn- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR disinformation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

false information, as about a country's military strength or plans, disseminated by a government or intelligence agency in a hostile act of tactical political subversion: Soviet disinformation drove a wedge between the United States and its Indonesian allies.

deliberately misleading or biased information; manipulated narrative or facts; propaganda: Special interest groups muddied the waters of the debate, spreading disinformation on social media.

Nearby words

disinfest, disinfestant, disinflate, disinflation, disinform, disinformation, disingenuous, disinherit, disinhibition, disinhume, disinsertion

Compare misinformation.

Origin of disinformation

First recorded in 1965–70; dis-¹ + information, as translation of Russian dezinformátsiya, from French désinform(er) “to misinform” + Russian -atsiya (ultimately from Latin -ātiō; see -ation)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for disinformation

He said the news of his appointment was not true, that it was disinformation spread by “some intelligence agency and my rivals.”
ISIS Targets Afghanistan Just as the U.S. Quits|Sami Yousafzai, Christopher Dickey|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The founder of Valor por Tamaulipas disputes this version of events and has characterized it as disinformation.
She Tweeted Against the Mexican Cartels. They Tweeted Her Murder.|Jason McGahan|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At your press conference yesterday, you referred to Russian disinformation concerning the Ukrainian situation.
Inside ‘Maidan’: Sergei Loznitsa on His Ukrainian Uprising Doc and Putin’s ‘Fascist’ Regime|Richard Porton|May 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But, with all due respect to the Putinized founts of disinformation, that is not where things stand at the moment.
Bernard-Henri Levy: Ukraine’s Revolutionaries Are Not Fascists|Bernard-Henri Lévy|February 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

One more installment in the epic battle: Eli Lake vs. Obama administration department of Libya disinformation.
The White House's Battle Against Truth in Benghazi|David Frum|October 12, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Superstitions, prejudices and calumny thrive in the putrid soil of disinformation, mis-information and lack of information.
After the Rain|Sam Vaknin
Deception, disinformation, and misinformation would be applied massively.
Shock and Awe|Harlan K. Ullman
Middlemen thrive of disinformation, misinformation and lack of information.
After the Rain|Sam Vaknin
Deception, misinformation, and disinformation are key components in this assault on the will and understanding of the opponent.
Shock and Awe|Harlan K. Ullman
Deception, disinformation, and misinformation will become major elements of this systemic approach.
Shock and Awe|Harlan K. Ullman

British Dictionary definitions for disinformation

disinformation

/ (ˌdɪsɪnfəˈmeɪʃən) /

noun

false information intended to deceive or mislead

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

disinformation

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of disinformation

Examples from the Web for disinformation

British Dictionary definitions for disinformation

disinformation

noun