propaganda

noun

pro·​pa·​gan·​da ˌprä-pə-ˈgan-də 

ˌprō-

1

: ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause

The report was nothing but lies and propaganda.

But even though Mattel was involved, the film couldn't just be Barbie propaganda.

—Willa Paskin

also : a public action having such an effect

2

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

The power to control what art is seen as good or bad is fundamental for propaganda.

—Ryan Gaur

3

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

Did you know?

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

But even on state TV -- long a bastion of pro-government propaganda and ideological control -- cracks have started to appear. —Egina Garcia Cano, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026

Sadly, on Monday, our social media feeds will re-fragment and our algorithms will once again feed us our partisan political propaganda. —Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026

Twenty athletes from Russia and Belarus have been cleared to take part in the Milan Cortina Games by the IOC under a neutral flag, but Ukraine has raised concerns about their status, saying Moscow uses sports for war propaganda. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026

Redesign amid the Olympic rules Jean spent nearly a year working on the uniforms, only to be told last month that the image of Haiti’s founding father violated the International Olympic Committee rules prohibiting political, religious or racial propaganda at Olympic venues and on uniforms. —Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Congregatio de propaganda fide Congregation for propagating the faith, organization established by Pope Gregory XV †1623

First Known Use

1679, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing propaganda

• counter-propaganda
• propaganda machine

Rhymes for propaganda

• jacaranda
• memoranda
• aranda
• miranda
• veranda
• verandah
• banda
• ganda
• panda
• vanda

Kids Definition

propaganda

noun

pro·​pa·​gan·​da ˌpräp-ə-ˈgan-də 

ˌprō-pə-

: an organized spreading of certain ideas

also : the ideas spread in this way

propagandist

-dəst 

noun or adjective

propagandistic

-ˌgan-ˈdis-tik 

adjective