publicity

noun pub·lic·i·ty \ (ˌ)pə-ˈbli-sə-tē , -ˈbli-stē \

|Updated on: 8 Aug 2018

Definition of publicity

1 : the quality or state of being public

2 a : an act or device designed to attract public interest; specifically : information with news value issued as a means of gaining public attention or support

b : the dissemination of information or promotional material

c : paid advertising

d : public attention or acclaim

See publicity defined for English-language learners

See publicity defined for kids

Examples of publicity in a Sentence

His public appearances are good publicity for the new movie.
An arrest for drunk driving is bad publicity for any celebrity.
The film has gotten some good publicity.
She has received a lot of publicity for her latest novel.
The studio spent a lot of money on publicity for the movie.

Recent Examples of publicity from the Web

Lawyers for Paul Manafort, President Trump's former campaign chairman, asked a federal judge Friday to relocate a criminal trial starting later this month because of pretrial publicity.

— CBS News, "Manafort's lawyers ask for trial to be moved away from Washington," 7 July 2018
Despite the drumbeat of unfavorable publicity concerning Pruitt's personal conduct, Trump admired the job EPA was doing taking apart environmental regulations.

— ledyard king, USA TODAY, "Trump EPA chief Scott Pruitt resigns as ethical scandals mount," 5 July 2018
Movie critics are not another publicity arm to help the movie business sell its wares.

— alissa wilkinson, Vox, "The real reason we need more diversity in film criticism," 22 June 2018
The proceeding was moved there because of pretrial publicity.

— peter hermann, baltimoresun.com, "D.C. sniper, serving life in prison, will get new sentencing hearings, appeals court rules," 21 June 2018
As part of her divorce proceedings, court documents showed that Bean Cobain earns more than $95,000 a month from her late father’s publicity rights.

— stephanie petit, PEOPLE.com, "Newly Divorced Frances Bean Cobain Puts Los Angeles Home on the Market for $2.7 Million," 19 June 2018
Believe it or not, the conference call was being held to — wait for it — discuss how to avoid bad publicity.

— mike bianchi, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Is there actually a buzz for Magic 'MoJo' of Mo Bamba and Jonathan Isaac?," 13 July 2018
Many guys have the same agents/publicity firms/apparel endorsers.

— jonathan jones, SI.com, "Cam, AB and Opponents Who Team Up for Summer Workouts," 13 July 2018
Her father’s close friend was the editor of an important Viennese newspaper, and Ms. Faber says that Kallmus’s transition from photographing Jewish professors to shooting publicity-hungry Catholic duchesses may have been aided by the relationship.

— j.s. marcus, WSJ, "Faces of Old Vienna," 12 July 2018

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

First Known Use of publicity

1609

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

publicity Synonyms

Synonyms

ballyhoo, hype;

advertising, marketing, propaganda;

pronouncement, publication, release;

broadcast, bulletin, dispatch, report, story;

testimonial, write-up;

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

PUBLICITY Defined for English Language Learners

publicity

noun

Definition of publicity for English Language Learners

: something that attracts the attention of the public
: attention that is given to someone or something by newspapers, magazines, television news programs, etc.
: the activity or business of getting people to give attention to someone or something