disseminate

verb

dis·​sem·​i·​nate di-ˈse-mə-ˌnāt 

disseminated; disseminating

transitive verb

1

: to spread abroad as though sowing seed

disseminate ideas

2

: to disperse throughout

disseminator

-ˈse-mə-ˌnā-tər 

noun

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Disseminating Information on Disseminate

While the object of the verb disseminate may be something tangible, such as an infectious agent, nowadays the thing most often disseminated, or "spread abroad as though sowing seed," is information. Where does this metaphorical verb come from? In Latin, the dis- prefix signifies separation or dispersal, while the -sem- element springs from semen "seed." The same Latin noun is found in a number of other English words with figurative meanings: seminary (which now is a training facility for priests, but initially was a place where seeds were raised to plants), seminal (meaning "containing the seeds of later development"), and yes, the word semen.

Synonyms of disseminate

• propagate
• spread
• circulate

Examples of disseminate in a Sentence

He told me that as Commanding General [General David Petraeus] he believes he should not only direct battlefield action but also disseminate a few easy-to-grasp concepts about the war's prosecution, which subordinate officers can then interpret on their own. —Steve Coll, New Yorker, 8 Sept. 2008

Jefferson helped found and back a friendly newspaper, the National Gazette, to help disseminate his views. —Walter Kim, Time, 5 July 2004

In this case, the filmmakers did not prevent information from being disseminated. And they have no greater moral obligation than do the highly paid Tom Brokaw or Dan Rather to help a TV network keep down its costs. —Randy Cohen, New York Times Magazine, 7 Oct. 2001

Although possession of virus software and source code is not illegal, many of the existing state and federal computer intrusion and unauthorized access laws already make it illegal to introduce a virus into someone's system intentionally. Robert Morris's conviction … shows how the existing laws might be used to punish those involved with disseminating viruses. —Edward A. Cavazos et al., Cyberspace And The Law, 1994

The Internet allows us to disseminate information faster.

The findings were widely disseminated.

Recent Examples on the Web

Phishing fraudsters set up pages that masquerade as banks or other sensitive sites and disseminate links to the fake page. — Neil J. Rubenking, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026

Trump was hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping -- and the White House had credentialed CNN to film and disseminate footage for an event at the National Archives featuring the two world leaders. — Arkansas Online, 28 Sep. 2026

As the legal process played out, the White House assumed control of the press pool, a small, rotating group of journalists who cover the president every day and disseminate information and footage to other news outlets. — Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026

For its fifth edition, PhMuseum Days 2026 disseminates a programme of exhibitions, screenings, talks, workshops and independent publishing across the city of Bologna, under the artistic direction of Giuseppe Oliverio. — Photovogue, Vogue, 20 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin disseminatus, past participle of disseminare, from dis- + seminare to sow, from semin-, semen seed — more at semen

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for disseminate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

disseminate

verb

dis·​sem·​i·​nate dis-ˈem-ə-ˌnāt 

disseminated; disseminating

: to spread around as if sowing seed

disseminate ideas

dissemination

-ˌem-ə-ˈnā-shən 

noun

disseminator

-ˈem-ə-ˌnāt-ər 

noun