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.

Derived Forms

• ˌpropaˈgandism, noun
• ˌpropaˈgandist, nounadjective

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

As China entered the 20th century, Mulan became a powerful figure of political propaganda.

From Vox

The company describes its work as contributing directly to China’s national security, including military intelligence and propaganda.

From MIT Technology Review

Finally, liberal democratic governments must bolster data privacy laws and rethink how to manage propaganda from both foreign and domestic sources in the digital age—but without compromising democratic values along the way.

From MIT Technology Review

Some think the Cadastro could open the door to more targeted propaganda campaigns.

From MIT Technology Review

I mean, taking that to a propaganda level, and attacking another country for not having free markets.

From Freakonomics

This is not the first time the director has fallen for Russian propaganda.

From The Daily Beast

President Park understood the power of cinema as propaganda.

From The Daily Beast

To the Republic of Korea and United States military personnel stationed in the JSA, it is known as Propaganda Village.

From The Daily Beast

Not all Israeli gay propaganda is pinkwashing—a lot of it is good, old-fashioned PR to attract gay tourist dollars to Tel Aviv.

From The Daily Beast

There is no such thing as a gay lifestyle, except in right-wing propaganda to oppose LGBT equality.

From The Daily Beast

There is still a general tendency in universities on both sides of the Atlantic to treat propaganda as infection.

From Project Gutenberg

I do not know how things are in America but in England there has been a ridiculous attempt to suppress Bolshevik propaganda.

From Project Gutenberg

I have seen a lot of Bolshevik propaganda and it is not very convincing stuff.

From Project Gutenberg

Such a development of affairs would have greatly advanced the Anarchist propaganda.

From Project Gutenberg

If I could only learn what propaganda is being made out of my act, and what the Girl and Fedya are doing!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disinformation
• hype
• indoctrination
• publicity