propaganda

noun

pro·​pa·​gan·​da ˌprä-pə-ˈgan-də 

ˌprō-

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

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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

The Security Council cannot be allowed to deliver Hamas a propaganda victory, while in the real world, the terrorists refuse to accept a way out that the negotiators are offering. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 5 June 2025

Then again, so is Elphaba, even though the Wizard Of Oz’s propaganda machine would have the citizens of Oz think otherwise. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025

After more teasers of Dorothy and her friends meeting the Wizard — whose propaganda successfully turns the people of Oz against Elphaba, the trailer ends with the bond between Elphaba and Glinda at the heart of the story. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 4 June 2025

Voice of America was founded during WWII to counter Axis propaganda and continued to bring cultural and political democracy to countries under authoritarian rule. —Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025

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

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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