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

That stark reality forced both sides to wage slash-and-burn propaganda campaigns designed to sow doubt and disinformation among their enemies. —Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025

Bode’s comment was strictly in reference to the character of the Wizard of Oz, who uses propaganda to manipulate and deceive his subjects in Wicked. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 7 Nov. 2025

Images of public health workers on river boats and army helicopters full of nurses descending on indigenous villages were often used in official propaganda to promote the nation’s prowess as a global leader on immunization. —Adriana Brasileiro, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025

One year later, that same propaganda fell flat with voters in numerous key races — rejections not only of the GOP’s virulent transphobia, but rhetoric from centrist Democrats who blamed trans rights issues for the party’s losses. —Samantha Riedel, Them., 6 Nov. 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

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