publicity
Americannoun
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extensive mention in the news media or by word of mouth or other means of communication.
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public notice so gained.
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the measures, process, or business of securing public notice.
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information, articles, or advertisements issued to secure public notice or attention.
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the state of being public, or open to general observation or knowledge.
noun
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the technique or process of attracting public attention to people, products, etc, as by the use of the mass media
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( as modifier )
a publicity agent
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public interest resulting from information supplied by such a technique or process
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information used to draw public attention to people, products, etc
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the state of being public
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of publicity
1785–95; < French publicité < Medieval Latin pūblicitās. See public, -ity
Explanation
Publicity is a public message whose purpose is to let people know about something, like a concert or a new product. If you go around town putting up posters that advertise a community production of "Annie," you are helping with the play's publicity. In the business world, it's common to hear the terms "publicity campaign" and "publicity stunt." Originally, the word publicity was used to mean "condition of being public," and it wasn't until 1826 that it took on a marketing or advertising meaning.
Vocabulary lists containing publicity
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"The Civil Rights Movement"
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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.
“There were people that were even kind of saying, ‘Oh, they did it for a publicity stunt.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026
Nearly all appropriations bills that Congress passes include a rider that says none of the money being awarded can be used for publicity or propaganda purposes.
From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026
"The unauthorised use of a performer's voice... can be considered an infringement on publicity rights," said presiding judge Aya Takahashi.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
"It's good because any big event in the UK you think London or Manchester. It's good for cities like Cardiff to get the publicity," he added.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
One of their main reasons for choosing to walk to the parade site was their belief that it would capture considerable publicity for the suffragists’ cause.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
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.
