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propaganda

[ prop-uh-gan-duh ]
/ ˌprɒp əˈgæn də /
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See synonyms for propaganda on Thesaurus.com
noun
information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.
the deliberate spreading of such information, rumors, etc.
the particular doctrines or principles propagated by an organization or movement.
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.
Archaic. an organization or movement for the spreading of propaganda.
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Origin of propaganda

1710–20; <New Latin, short for congregātiō dē propāgandā fidē congregation for propagating the faith; propāgandā, ablative singular feminine gerundive of propāgāre;see propagate

Words nearby propaganda

proof stress, proof theory, prop, propaedeutic, propagable, propaganda, propagandist, propagandize, propagate, propagated, propagation
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to propaganda

disinformation, hype, indoctrination, publicity, advertising, agitprop, announcement, brainwashing, doctrine, evangelism, handout, hogwash, implantation, inculcation, newspeak, promotion, promulgation, proselytism, publication

How to use propaganda in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for propaganda (1 of 2)

propaganda
/ (ˌprɒpəˈɡændə) /
noun
the organized dissemination of information, allegations, etc, to assist or damage the cause of a government, movement, etc
such information, allegations, etc

Derived forms of propaganda

propagandism, nounpropagandist, noun, adjective

Word Origin for propaganda

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

British Dictionary definitions for propaganda (2 of 2)

Propaganda
/ (ˌprɒpəˈɡændə) /
noun
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

Cultural definitions for propaganda

propaganda

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.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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