promulgation

American  

[prom-uhl-gey-shuhn] / ˌprɒm əlˈgeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of making a law or decree known, or formally putting it into effect, by public declaration.

   Upon adoption, signing, and promulgation of these provisions in the established procedure, they acquire the power of law.

2. the act of publicly teaching or setting forth an idea, doctrine, etc..

   The systematic study of parasites began with the promulgation of the germ theory.

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Other Word Forms

• nonpromulgation
  noun
• repromulgation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of promulgation

First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin prōmulgātiōn-, stem of prōmulgātiō, equivalent to prōmulgāt(us) (past participle of prōmulgāre ) + -iō -ion ( def. ); see promulgate ( def. )

Explanation

Use the word promulgation when you're talking about an official announcement, like a newspaper story announcing a town's new regulations on trash and recycling services. A public notice or announcement can be called a promulgation, though it's used more often to describe a government's declaration — often in the newspaper or on the radio — of new laws. If you want to sound especially formal or fancy, you can call your book club's notification of a venue change a promulgation. It comes from the Latin promulgare, "make publicly known," itself a combination of pro, "out," and mulgere, "to cause to come forth," or literally, "to milk."

Example Sentences

“It is practically impossible that the development, promulgation, communication, and implementation of this policy has been, and will be, accomplished — as required — without using a single dollar of annually appropriated funds,” they wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 12, 2026

In all, 47 people were charged in what was the largest case brought since the promulgation of the national security law.

From Seattle Times • May 30, 2024

According to Dr Taylor, "while the Congress tends to be a decidedly performative autocratic exercise, there are elements of policy innovation and promulgation that bubble up".

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2024

The most interesting question answered by the promulgation of the new/old rules, therefore, is who it was that was confused about the old rules to such an extent that they needed to be laid down.

From Slate • Nov. 13, 2023

In the preliminary discussions he voted against the promulgation of the dogma.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various

Related Words

• dissemination
• proclamation