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

The promotion is part of the brand’s partnership with StoryCorps, an independent nonprofit focused on archiving the stories of everyday people.

From Salon • Apr. 27, 2026

One tradition is the promotion of America’s major political ideas—the protection of individual rights, the practice of democracy and the cultivation of peace—outside North America.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

Six of Sean Dyche's eight full seasons in charge of Burnley were in the Premier League, winning promotion in his first and third full campaigns in charge.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

“There’s a lot of chatter online about who isn’t selling plus sizes and who doesn’t carry your size, but there isn’t nearly enough promotion of the places that do,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

It’s in honor of your promotion to mechanic.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson