publicist
Americannoun
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publicists
plural
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a person who publicizes, especially a press agent or public-relations consultant.
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an expert in current public or political affairs.
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an expert in public or international law.
noun
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a person who publicizes something, esp a press or publicity agent
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a journalist
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rare a person learned in public or international law
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of publicist
From German, dating back to 1785–95; see origin at public, -ist
Explanation
A publicist creates a media buzz for movie stars, restaurants, or whoever else needs attention. A publicist for a new restaurant might send out a press release to newspapers and magazines announcing the opening, emphasizing the fabulous. Those whose careers depend on getting attention in the media (on TV and the internet, for example) sometimes pay a publicist to generate coverage in the press. Actors, restaurants, writers, and oil companies are all things or people that commonly use publicists. In the eighteenth century, the word instead meant "person who knows public law" or "writer on current topics."
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.
See Examples For:
The author is a writer and literary/entertainment publicist.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Blair's publicist told the BBC that she "experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct".
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
Shatz, the publicist, usually caps gifts at $100 per couple, especially when she has to travel far to their wedding.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
“After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” her publicist, Marcel Pariseau, said in a statement Tuesday.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 28, 2026
Maybe be a publicist or a person who finds new bands.
From "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky
This is what Walmart, the publicists for the nation’s hottest rising country act, and many politicians have noticed too.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
Her standing as one of the go-to promotional tour stops means Dimoldenberg has a contact list of celebs and, crucially, their publicists to call ahead of Oscars night.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 16, 2026
Perhaps Hollywood's publicists have told their stars to play it straight to avoid any viral mishaps in the social media age.
From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2026
Contemporary newspapers published flattering portraits apparently written by publicists on Dillon’s dime.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
They’re ravenous for “content,” as his publicists and managers say.
From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
