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. ); 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

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

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

Critical thought was banished, and the pursuit of truth was forced to yield to the confirmation of biases and the promulgation of doctrines.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 24, 2023

His visa was later reinstated because the promulgation, which is drafted to exclude undergraduates, was wrongly applied to him.

From BBC • Oct. 19, 2020

During the voting and promulgation a storm burst over Rome, and made the Council Hall so dark that the Pope could not read the decree of his infallibility without having a candle brought.

From Letters From Rome on the Council by D?llinger, Johann Joseph Ignaz von

Related Words

• dissemination
• proclamation