manifesto

1 of 2

noun

man·​i·​fes·​to ˌma-nə-ˈfe-(ˌ)stō How to pronounce manifesto (audio)
plural manifestos or manifestoes
: a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer
The group's manifesto focused on helping the poor and stopping violence.

manifesto

2 of 2

verb

manifestoed; manifestoing; manifestos

intransitive verb

: to issue a manifesto

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Manifesto Has Latin Roots

Manifesto is related to manifest, which occurs in English as a noun, verb, and adjective. Of these, the adjective, which means "readily perceived by the senses," is oldest, dating to the 14th century. Both manifest and manifesto derive ultimately from the Latin noun manus ("hand") and -festus, a combining form of uncertain meaning that is also found in the Latin adjective infestus ("hostile"), an ancestor of the English infest. Something that is manifest is easy to perceive or recognize, and a manifesto is a statement in which someone makes his or her intentions or views easy for people to ascertain. Perhaps the most well-known statement of this sort is the Communist Manifesto, written in 1848 by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels to outline the platform of the Communist League.

Examples of manifesto in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
He has been linked to a 900-word manifesto Read more. Hannah Parry shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025 So Far Obscure philosophies The manifesto’s author pulled together various references to obscure philosophies in order to flesh out his ideas, indicating a mindset shaped by a confused amalgamation of toxic and despairing internet subcultures. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2025 The co-conspirators allegedly wrote a manifesto, posed for photos wearing the same clothing as the perpetrators of the 1999 Columbine mass shooting and divulged their scheme in an online game's chat. Christina Coulter, People.com, 16 May 2025 To ensure that your manifesto remains a central part of your life, display it somewhere visible — on your desk, in your journal or as a background on your phone. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 Each look told a story: Jodie Turner-Smith’s romantic rebellion and André 3000’s musical manifesto both honored the theme while flipping it on its head. Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 6 May 2025 Prosecutors believe the fatal shooting was meant to send a message to the healthcare insurance industry based on a manifesto found on the suspect when he was arrested days after Thompson's murder. Peter D'abrosca , Alexis McAdams , Maria Paronich, FOXNews.com, 2 May 2025 On October 15, 1924, André Breton published a manifesto that was as notable for its belligerence as its egotism. Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 Once a digital home to political incorrectness, and a staging ground for incel culture, white-power groups, mass-shooting manifestos, and more, 4chan is now one among many platforms just as conducive to hate speech. Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Italian, denunciation, manifest, from manifestare to manifest, from Latin, from manifestus

First Known Use

Noun

1620, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1748, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of manifesto was in 1620

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Cite this Entry

“Manifesto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manifesto. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

manifesto

noun
man·​i·​fes·​to
ˌman-ə-ˈfes-tō
plural manifestos or manifestoes
: a public declaration of intentions or views

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