propaganda

noun

pro·pa·gan·da | \ ˌprä-pə-ˈgan-də

, ˌprō- \

Definition of propaganda

1 capitalized : a congregation of the Roman curia having jurisdiction over missionary territories and related institutions

2 : the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person

3 : ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause also : a public action having such an effect

The History of Propaganda Example Sentences Learn More About propaganda

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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

She didn't buy into the propaganda of her day that women had to be soft and submissive. — 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.

Recent Examples on the Web Some in Taiwan argued China was using the island’s open environment to spread propaganda. — Huizhong Wu, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Aug. 2021 Later Tuesday, Afghan interior ministry spokesman Mirwais Stanikzai said the four have been accused of spreading enemy propaganda. — Rahim Faiez, Star Tribune, 27 July 2021 North Korea also used the occasion to spread propaganda at a time when the country is facing a looming food shortage. — New York Times, 29 June 2021 Terrorism researchers have published many studies looking at how ISIS used social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, to spread propaganda, particularly in the mid-2010s. — NBC News, 10 June 2021 But this one, there’s so much propaganda around it. — Washington Post, 11 Aug. 2021 Over the course of the next few months, Freckleton said that, along with spirituality training, she was subjected to lessons around Freemasonry propaganda, conspiracy theories, and anti-vaccine rhetoric. — Katie Campione, PEOPLE.com, 10 Aug. 2021 English-language propaganda, oozing with verbal sweat in the Tokyo heat. — BostonGlobe.com, 2 Aug. 2021 English-language propaganda, oozing with verbal sweat in the Tokyo heat. — Katherine J Igoe, Marie Claire, 30 July 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'propaganda.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.