promulgate

1 of 2

verb

pro·​mul·​gate ˈprä-məl-ˌgāt 

prō-ˈməl-, 

prə-ˈməl-, 

ˈprō-(ˌ)məl- 

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 

ˌprō-(ˌ)məl-, 

(ˌ)prō-ˌməl-

noun

promulgator

ˈprä-məl-ˌgā-tər 

prō-ˈməl-, 

prə-ˈməl-, 

ˈprō-(ˌ)məl-

noun

promulgator

2 of 2

noun

promul·​ga·​tor ˈpräməlˌgātə(r) 

prəˈm-, 

prōˈm-, 

ˈprō(ˌ)m-, 

-ātə-

plural -s

: one that promulgates or publishes

the original and systematic promulgator of the doctrine of free, self-governing institution

—John Dewey

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.

Synonyms of promulgate

Verb

• publish
• announce
• proclaim
• declare
• advertise

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

Verb

Her ideas have been widely promulgated on the Internet.

The law was promulgated in April 1988.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Well versed in what the lunar surface truly offers, Britt scolded a number of arty accounts of lunar territory promulgated by both NASA and commercial space ventures. — Leonard David, Space.com, 22 June 2026

The competing narratives — that rich people are hoarding homes or conversely that the tax measure is government overreach — are being promulgated by campaigns with war chests that have grown substantially in recent days. — Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2026

But the 2023 decision promulgated the racist myth that the plaintiffs had been rejected in favor of less qualified Black and Brown applicants. — Literary Hub, 21 May 2026

Section 112 requires the CFTC and SEC to promulgate all rules within 360 days of enactment. — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

Late Latin, from Latin promulgatus + -or

First Known Use

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for promulgate

• vulgate

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Kids Definition

promulgate

verb

pro·​mul·​gate ˈpräm-əl-ˌgāt  prō-ˈməl- 

promulgated; promulgating

: to make known or make public

promulgate a new law

promulgation

ˌpräm-əl-ˈgā-shən 

ˌprō-(ˌ)məl-

noun

Legal Definition

promulgate

transitive verb

prom·​ul·​gate ˈprä-məl-ˌgāt, prō-ˈməl- 

promulgated; promulgating

1

: to make known or public

2

: to put (as a regulation) into effect

promulgation

ˌprä-məl-ˈgā-shən, ˌprō-ˌməl- 

noun

promulgator

ˈprä-məl-ˌgā-tər, prō-ˈməl- 

noun