propaganda

American  

[prop-uh-gan-duh] / ˌprɒp əˈgæn də /

noun

1. information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.

2. the deliberate spreading of such information, rumors, etc.

3. the particular doctrines or principles propagated by an organization or movement.

4. Roman Catholic Church.

   1. a committee of cardinals, established in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV, having supervision over foreign missions and the training of priests for these missions.

   2. a school College of Propaganda established by Pope Urban VIII for the education of priests for foreign missions.

5. Archaic. an organization or movement for the spreading of propaganda.

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Propaganda ¹ British  

/ ˌprɒpəˈɡændə /

noun

1. RC Church a congregation responsible for directing the work of the foreign missions and the training of priests for these

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propaganda ² British  

/ ˌprɒpəˈɡændə /

noun

1. the organized dissemination of information, allegations, etc, to assist or damage the cause of a government, movement, etc

2. such information, allegations, etc

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propaganda Cultural  

1. Official government communications to the public that are designed to influence opinion. The information may be true or false, but it is always carefully selected for its political effect.

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Other Word Forms

• propagandism noun
• propagandist noun

Etymology

Origin of propaganda

First recorded in 1710–20; from New Latin, short for congregātiō dē propāgandā fidē “congregation for propagating the faith”; propāgandā, ablative singular feminine gerundive of propāgāre; propagate

Example Sentences

In a statement on Wednesday, the university denied claiming it had built the robot and described the backlash as a "propaganda campaign".

From BBC

The Greek culture ministry said it was "highly likely" that the photographs were taken by Guenther Heysing, a journalist attached to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels's unit.

From Barron's

The term carried an especially chilling, historical weight at a conference held in Germany; Nazis had used it in their aggressive propaganda campaign against Jews, Communists and others the government wanted to demonize.

From Salon

“This story promises to have the happiest ending you will ever hear,” blares a propaganda loudspeaker, one of the novel’s narrators.

From The Wall Street Journal

"This is not propaganda, it's a tribute," Hamilton Junior, one of the school's directors, told AFP.

From Barron's

Related Words

• disinformation
• hype
• indoctrination
• publicity