propaganda
noun
Did you know?
The History of Propaganda
Propaganda is today most often used in reference to political statements, but the word comes to our language through its use in a religious context. The Congregatio de propaganda fide (“Congregation for propagating the faith”) was an organization established in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV as a means of furthering Catholic missionary activity. The word propaganda is from the ablative singular feminine of propogandus, which is the gerundive of the Latin propagare, meaning “to propagate.” The first use of the word propaganda (without the rest of the Latin title) in English was in reference to this Catholic organization. It was not until the beginning of the 19th century that it began to be used as a term denoting ideas or information that are of questionable accuracy as a means of advancing a cause.
Examples of propaganda in a Sentence
Maria Shriver, Time, 26 Oct. 2009
They see all clear thinking, all sense of reality, and all fineness of living, threatened on every side by propaganda, by advertisement, by film and television.
—C. S. Lewis, An Experiment in Criticism, (1961) 2009
We've so bought into the mass delusion, the nutty propaganda, that now the ideal American family is one that's on steroids …
—Anna Quindlen, Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2009
… just propaganda for a mode of life no one could live without access to the very impulse-suppressing, nostalgia-provoking drugs they don't want you to have …
—Richard Ford, Independence Day, 1995
He was accused of spreading propaganda.
The report was nothing but lies and propaganda.
Colin P. Clarke, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
In a classified assessment prepared in early October, U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia, which favors Donald Trump, and Iran, which prefers Kamala Harris, were both plotting covert propaganda campaigns to sow post-election discord over the vote counting.
—The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024
But with the rise of social media, there has also been an increase in disinformation, misinformation and propaganda this election season.
—Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
To reverse the decline, Chinese officials have rolled out a raft of measures, from financial incentives to propaganda campaigns, to nudge young people to tie the knot and have children.
—Nectar Gan, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for propaganda 
Dictionary Entries Near propaganda
Cite this Entry
“Propaganda.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propaganda. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
propaganda
noun
Share