promulgate

verb

pro·​mul·​gate ˈprä-məl-ˌgāt How to pronounce promulgate (audio)
prō-ˈməl-,
prə-ˈməl-,
ˈprō-(ˌ)məl- How to pronounce promulgate (audio)
promulgated; promulgating

transitive verb

1
: to make (an idea, belief, etc.) known to many people by open declaration : proclaim
… the huge meeting served primarily as the occasion on which to promulgate the official doctrine …Roger Shattuck
From the beginning our objective has been to develop and promulgate new models for the calculus-based introductory course.John S. Rigden et al.
2
a
: to make known or public the terms of (a proposed law)
The law was promulgated in February 1993.
b
: to put (a law or rule) into action or force
… more than 200 colleges and universities have promulgated behavioral codes that punish various forms of harassment …Ken Myers
promulgation
ˌprä-məl-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce promulgate (audio)
ˌprō-(ˌ)məl-
(ˌ)prō-ˌməl-
noun
promulgator
ˈprä-məl-ˌgā-tər How to pronounce promulgate (audio)
prō-ˈməl-
prə-ˈməl-
ˈprō-(ˌ)məl-
noun

Did you know?

The origin of promulgate is a bit murky, or perhaps we should say "milky." It comes from Latin promulgatus, which in turn derives from pro-, meaning "forward," and -mulgare, a form that is probably related to the verb mulgēre, meaning "to milk" or "to extract." Mulgēre is an ancestor of the English word emulsion ("mixture of mutually insoluble liquids"), and it is also related to the Old English word that became milk itself. Like its synonyms declare, announce, and proclaim, promulgate means "to make known publicly." It particularly implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law.

Choose the Right Synonym for promulgate

declare, announce, proclaim, promulgate mean to make known publicly.

declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known.

the referee declared the contest a draw

announce implies the declaration of something for the first time.

announced their engagement at a party

proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively.

the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law.

promulgated an edict of religious toleration

Examples of promulgate in a Sentence

Her ideas have been widely promulgated on the Internet. The law was promulgated in April 1988.
Recent Examples on the Web The next constitutional issue was a strange one that apparently is unique to the Washington courts, which is that Washington's court procedural rules (as promulgated by the Washington Supreme Court) supersede conflicting laws passed by the Washington state legislature. Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024 The statute authorizes the BLM to create crimes, punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine of up to $1,000, by promulgating these rules. Dan McLaughlin, National Review, 1 Feb. 2024 Sadly, certain outlets use that phrase while promulgating propaganda and falsehoods. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2024 The Foundation has entered its religious phase, promulgating the Church of Seldon throughout the Outer Reach and inciting the Second Crisis: war with Empire. Joe Otterson, Variety, 5 Dec. 2023 Authorities promulgated a national-level decree through the State Administration and Religious Affairs department. Lobsang Sangay, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2023 Washington cannot assume that merely promulgating American principles or lifting trade restrictions and lowering tariffs will win it security partners. John Lee, Foreign Affairs, 21 Nov. 2023 In the name of stopping wokeness, 14 states have promulgated laws that restrict discussion of LGBTQ issues in K-12 education. Samuel Clowes Huneke, The New Republic, 26 Oct. 2023 In light of the risks, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, a professional organization that promulgates clinical and ethical guidelines for assisted reproduction, urges that measures be taken during in vitro fertilization to avoid pregnancies with two or more fetuses. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'promulgate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin promulgatus, past participle of promulgare, from pro- forward + -mulgare (probably akin to mulgēre to milk, extract) — more at emulsion

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of promulgate was in 1530

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Dictionary Entries Near promulgate

Cite this Entry

“Promulgate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/promulgate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

promulgate

verb
pro·​mul·​gate ˈpräm-əl-ˌgāt How to pronounce promulgate (audio) prō-ˈməl- How to pronounce promulgate (audio)
promulgated; promulgating
: to make known or make public
promulgate a new law
promulgation
ˌpräm-əl-ˈgā-shən How to pronounce promulgate (audio)
ˌprō-(ˌ)məl-
noun

Legal Definition

promulgate

transitive verb
prom·​ul·​gate ˈprä-məl-ˌgāt, prō-ˈməl- How to pronounce promulgate (audio)
promulgated; promulgating
1
: to make known or public
2
: to put (as a regulation) into effect

More from Merriam-Webster on promulgate

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