Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Jump To:
  • propaganda
    propaganda
    noun
    information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.
  • Propaganda
    Propaganda
    noun
    RC Church a congregation responsible for directing the work of the foreign missions and the training of priests for these
Synonyms

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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.


Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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; see propagate

Explanation

Propaganda is the spreading of information in support of a cause. It’s not so important whether the information is true or false or if the cause is just or not — it’s all propaganda. The word propaganda is often used in a negative sense, especially for politicians who make false claims to get elected or spread rumors to get their way. In fact, any campaign that is used to persuade can be called propaganda.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing propaganda

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.

"MTI has been liberated and works freely... Topics and organisations previously banned have returned to our coverage. Propaganda has been pushed out," said an editor.

From Barron's • May 30, 2026

"The Propaganda and Agitation Department played a significantly important role in orchestrating a series of processes that naturally transferred respect for Kim Il Sung to Kim Jong Un," Cheong says.

From BBC • May 5, 2026

She is the vice director of the Propaganda and Agitation Department at the Korean Workers’ Party, as well as a member of the State Affairs Commission, North Korea’s top decision-making authority.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 30, 2025

Propaganda is central to the Kim family’s Stalinist grip on power.

From New York Times • May 8, 2024

“It wasn’t herself who mattered. It was the others—and discipline. For that, no sacrifice is too great, no matter how many tears are shed,” proclaimed a statement from the Ministry of Propaganda.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "propaganda" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com