propaganda
noun
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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.
Peter Baker, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Indeed, the concept dates back to the 1960s, when the social psychologist William McGuire sought to understand people’s susceptibility to propaganda during the Cold War and whether they could be defended against it.
—Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 25 Apr. 2024
At some point, European leaders must ignore Putin’s saber-rattling, which is merely propaganda premised on the baseless notion that NATO wants to attack or invade Russia.
—Alex Crowther, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2024
National Public Radio has every right to operate as a left-wing propaganda outlet masquerading as a legitimate news organization.
—The Editors, National Review, 18 Apr. 2024
While it was inspired by ancient Greek practices, the relay was first held in Germany, where the Nazis employed it as a propaganda tool.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Apr. 2024
Russia is seeking to subvert Western support for Ukraine and disrupt the domestic politics of the United States and European countries, through propaganda campaigns supporting isolationist and extremist policies, according to Kremlin documents previously reported on by The Post.
—Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
This is the part that will require compromise — for conservatives who believe anything smacking of climate change is woke liberal propaganda, and for liberals who want nothing to do with conservatives spouting that belief.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
Astonishingly, the GOP chairmen of the House Intelligence and Foreign Affairs committees have asserted that some of their colleagues have succumbed to Russian propaganda.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'propaganda.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near propaganda
Cite this Entry
“Propaganda.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/propaganda. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
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propaganda
noun
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