perpetuate

[ per-pech-oo-eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, per·pet·u·at·ed, per·pet·u·at·ing.

1. to enable or allow the continuation of into the future; keep alive (used most often in reference to something considered harmful or false): Vines obscured a plaque intended to perpetuate her memory.

   Social media played a significant role in perpetuating political divisions.

   Vines obscured a plaque intended to perpetuate her memory.

2. to preserve from extinction or oblivion: perpetuate the species.

   to perpetuate one's name;

   perpetuate the species.

   Synonyms: sustain, save, preserve, maintain

perpetuate

/ pəˈpɛtjʊˌeɪt /

verb

1. tr to cause to continue or prevail

   to perpetuate misconceptions

Usage

See perpetrate

Derived Forms

• perˌpetuˈation, noun

Other Words From

• per·pet·u·a·ble adjective
• per·pet·u·a·tion [per-pech-oo-, ey, -sh, uh, n], per·pet·u·ance [per-, pech, -oo-, uh, ns], noun
• per·pet·u·a·tor noun
• un·per·pet·u·a·ble adjective
• un·per·pet·u·at·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of perpetuate¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin perpetuātus (past participle of perpetuāre, derivative of perpetuus “uninterrupted”); perpetual, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of perpetuate¹

C16: from Latin perpetuāre to continue without interruption, from perpetuus perpetual

Example Sentences

I should add that by perpetuating lies that have led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands and by promoting lies that have undermined democracy, Fox is actively complicit in this.

From The Daily Beast

With the Better Common Names Project, the ESA now prohibits names perpetuating negative stereotypes, and welcomes public input about which names to change next.

From Science News

By focusing on Google above all else, we perpetuate a cycle that overlooks the value that smaller competitors might be offering and keeps the search behemoth at the top.

From Search Engine Land

By focusing on Google above all else, we perpetuate a cycle that disenfranchises smaller competitors and keeps the search behemoth at the top.

From Search Engine Land

Such treatment brings with it pain and perpetuates intolerance.

From Washington Blade

And while some sex workers turn to advocacy groups, even rape support organizations sometimes perpetuate stigma.

From The Daily Beast

In Paris, a new generation of entrepreneurs are  launching initiatives to perpetuate the Yiddish way of life.

From The Daily Beast

Unused funds, sitting idle, do nothing to perpetuate the cycle of support that America relies on.

From The Daily Beast

But religion also compels us to fight the unjust, prejudiced systems that cause and perpetuate that misfortune.

From The Daily Beast

But it serves no one to perpetuate the idea that parenting is supposed to be an agonizing and thankless slog.

From The Daily Beast

It is a very laudable spirit on the part of a dying man to wish to—ah—perpetuate these old English names.

From Project Gutenberg

I think this is a wicked, wicked war, waged to perpetuate slavery and to destroy the Union.

From Project Gutenberg

By perpetrating an act of injustice, which would perpetuate agitation.

From Project Gutenberg

What he wanted was to gain time, and perpetuate the war, even though waging an unequal contest.

From Project Gutenberg

That the animals selected for breed, should unite in themselves all the good qualities we wish to perpetuate in the offspring.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bolster
• maintain
• preserve