campaign

1 of 3

noun (1)

cam·​paign (ˌ)kam-ˈpān 

1

: a connected series of military operations forming a distinct phase of a war

the bombing campaign

2

: a connected series of operations designed to bring about a particular result

election campaign

an advertising campaign

campaign

2 of 3

verb

campaigned; campaigning; campaigns

intransitive verb

: to go on, engage in, or conduct a campaign

campaigned for the presidency

transitive verb

: to enter (something, such as a horse or boat) in competition

… was at that time campaigning a big steeplechase stable …

—A. H. Higginson

campaigner noun

campaigner

3 of 3

noun (2)

cam·​paign·​er

(ˌ)kam-ˈpā-nər

plural -s

1

: one that goes on, engages in, or conducts a campaign

an effective campaigner for slum clearance

2

: one that has taken part in many campaigns

especially : a veteran in any field or vocation

that stout, battle-scarred old campaigner

—Frank Yerby

Synonyms of campaign

Noun (1)

• movement
• crusade
• push

Examples of campaign in a Sentence

Noun (1)

The group launched a campaign to protect the area from commercial development.

The university is organizing a campaign to attract a more diverse student population.

Verb

She campaigned to save the town library.

He campaigned hard to get more funding.

a time when women were campaigning for the right to vote

I campaigned for her when she ran for governor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Biden's halting gait, frail appearance and frequent verbal stumbles eventually doomed his 2024 reelection campaign. — ABC News, 14 July 2026

United States forward Folarin Balogun has signed with the high-profile Klutch Sports agency following an eventful World Cup campaign that ended when the national team was eliminated by Belgium in the round of 16. — Martin Rogers, New York Times, 14 July 2026

Verb

Her race was seen as a mini-referendum on Gaza, as Allam campaigned against Foushee’s prior support from AIPAC. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 14 July 2026

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani successfully campaigned as a DSA member in 2025. — Kirk McClure, Fortune, 14 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French campagne, probably from Italian campagna level country, campaign, from Late Latin campania level country, from Latin, the level country around Naples

Verb

derivative of campaign entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1692, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing campaign

• campaign button
• campaign for
• campaign trail
• counter-campaign
• whispering campaign

Rhymes for campaign

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• cetane

Kids Definition

campaign

noun

cam·​paign

kam-ˈpān

1

: a series of military operations in a particular area or for a particular purpose as part of a war

2

: a connected series of activities designed to bring about a particular result

an election campaign

campaign verb

campaigner noun