promulgation
Americannoun
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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.
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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.
Other Word Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing promulgation
"The Purloined Letter" by Edgar Allan Poe
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Kaffir Boy
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The president has a largely ceremonial role, responsible for representation and the promulgation of laws, while most executive powers lie with the prime minister.
From Barron's ● Jul. 19, 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
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
This question is not academic: The answer determines whether Thomas’ conduct prior to the promulgation of the new rule was outright illegal or simply unseemly.
From Slate ● Apr. 6, 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
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
