propagation
Americannoun
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the act of propagating.
-
the fact of being propagated.
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multiplication by natural reproduction.
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transmission or dissemination.
- Synonyms:
- diffusion, dispersion
Other Word Forms
- nonpropagation noun
- propagational adjective
- self-propagation noun
Etymology
Origin of propagation
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English propagacyon, from Latin propāgātiōn-, stem of propāgātiō; equivalent to propagate + -ion
Explanation
If your dog is about to have puppies, then she's engaged in the propagation of dogs, the creation of new life to further the species. Propagation has two main uses, both having to do with multiplying something. If it's used in relation to creatures, that means that the creatures are multiplying — having kids. A synonym for this is procreation. You can also use propagation for anything that multiplies and spreads through larger and larger numbers or spaces — from the propagation of weeds in your garden to the propagation of a new idea. In physics, propagation is wave movement.
Vocabulary lists containing propagation
Their Eyes Were Watching God
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"A Modest Proposal" by Jonathan Swift
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A Brief History of Time
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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.
“Why should I support the propagation of error?”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 4, 2026
They also used the circuits to generate pulses of hadrons, then simulated how those pulses evolved over time to track their propagation.
From Science Daily • Nov. 19, 2025
With a large area of marshes and rice fields, the Guadalquivir Valley has an eco-system that encourages the propagation of mosquitoes.
From BBC • Sep. 2, 2024
But someone in L.A. could have felt the “S” wave, in which bedrock oscillates perpendicular to the direction of the propagation of the wave, according to Page.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 30, 2024
He published prolifically; his areas of interest, which included the propagation of electron beams and their usefulness as ionization agents, were among the most intriguing in physics; and his resourceful laboratory technique was widely praised.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
