promotion

American  

[pruh-moh-shuhn] / prəˈmoʊ ʃən /

noun

1. advancement in rank or position.

2. furtherance or encouragement.

3. the act of promoting.

4. the state of being promoted.

5. something devised to publicize or advertise a product, cause, institution, etc., as a brochure, free sample, poster, television or radio commercial, or personal appearance.

6. Also called queening.  Chess. the replacement of a pawn that has reached the enemy's first rank by a more powerful piece of the same color, usually a queen.

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Other Word Forms

• nonpromotion
  noun
• prepromotion
  noun
• promotional
  adjective
• self-promotion
  noun
• unpromotional
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of promotion

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Late Latin prōmōtiōn-, stem of prōmōtiō “movement forward, advancement”; equivalent to promote + -ion

Explanation

A promotion is a raise in pay or stature, or it's a way to raise the profile or attention of something. If you create an advertising promotion that increases sales of spray jeans in a can, for example, you might get a promotion to company vice-president. Words that start with pro- usually hint at something positive or forward moving, and a promotion is a moving up or a motion forward. A product promotion pushes the item out in front so it gets more exposure, and a work or school promotion raises your salary or moves you up a grade. If you’re in the military a promotion means a higher rank, with more people under your command, and the same happens if you earn a promotion in a club or organization like the scouts.

Example Sentences

We’ve all seen it — the VP who never leaves, the promotion that takes too long.

From MarketWatch • May 7, 2026

In this week’s Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick chats with former prosecutor Barbara McQuade about acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s transparent desire for a promotion.

From Slate • May 7, 2026

It's been a great season for Ipswich Town fans, who saw their team do the double over Norwich City in the East Anglian derbies and, oh yes, also win promotion back to the Premier League.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

He faults board leadership for inconsistent academic outcomes, overreliance on social promotion, bureaucracy that consumes resources and lack of transparency and accountability.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

They can tell me about whoever’s promotion or whatever vacation after the show.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen