propaganda

[prop-uh-gan-duh]

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.

Propaganda

¹

/ ˌprɒpəˈɡændə /

noun

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

propaganda

²

/ 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

propaganda

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.

Other Word Forms

• propagandism noun
• propagandist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of propaganda¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of propaganda¹

C18: from Italian, use of propāgandā in the New Latin title Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide Sacred Congregation for Propagating the Faith

Example Sentences

Over the decades between Hoover’s death in 1972 and Patel’s appointment this year, a propaganda narrative has taken hold about the FBI.

Read more on Salon

He can maintain his outside businesses and run roughshod over the department while Noem, in Terris’ words, “brings reality-show energy” as she travels the world, dresses up in various costumes and makes propaganda videos.

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The strongman’s regime has cranked up its propaganda machine.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Then a year later, Panahi received a 20-year ban from making films and a sentence of six years in prison, for what the Iranian government deemed “propaganda against the state.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

While no-one appears to have documented direct involvement by Russia, researchers note that Moscow has already helped the military rulers of the three Sahel states mount propaganda operations.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• disinformation 
• hype 
• indoctrination 
• publicity