agitprop

American  

[aj-it-prop] / ˈædʒ ɪtˌprɒp /

noun

1. agitation and propaganda, especially for the cause of communism.

2. Often Agitprop an agency or department, as of a government, that directs and coordinates agitation and propaganda.

3. Also agitpropist. a person who is trained or takes part in such activities.

---

adjective

1. of or relating to agitprop.

agitprop British  

/ ˈædʒɪtˌprɒp /

noun

1. (often capital) (formerly) a bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, in charge of agitation and propaganda on behalf of Communism

2. 1. any promotion, as in the arts, of political propaganda, esp of a Communist nature

   2. ( as modifier )

      agitprop theatre

---

Etymology

Origin of agitprop

First recorded in 1930–35; from Russian Agitpróp, originally for Agitatsiónno-propagandístskiĭ otdél “Agitation Propaganda Section” (of the Central Committee, or a local committee, of the Communist Party); subsequently the head of such a section, or in compound names of political education organs, as agitpropbrigáda, etc.

Example Sentences

Perhaps an exhibition could explore Jewish artists wrestling with their traditions, but here these objects land like leaden agitprop.

From The Wall Street Journal

Right up until the collapse, Lippmann would pepper them with agitprop about the housing market, and his own ideas of which subprime mortgage bonds his customers should bet against.

From Literature

Art as propaganda works both ways, and agitprop will likely follow from activist artists in the next few years.

From Los Angeles Times

Though some dismissed it as “self-righteous soapbox agitprop,” the critic Simon Reynolds wrote in “U.K. Post-Punk,” a 2012 collection of his essays, the album, like “Y,” came to be a considered a classic by many.

From New York Times

With few theatrical prospects as a Black actor, Mr. Belafonte spent much of his time putting on agitprop plays in union halls.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• disinformation
• hype
• indoctrination
• publicity