publicity
noun
pub·lic·i·ty
(ˌ)pə-ˈbli-sə-tē 
-ˈbli-stē
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
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 on the Web
To ward off negative publicity, sportsbooks trumpet their programs for responsible gaming.
—
Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
As a condition of receiving the Prize, each potential winner will be required to complete and return a Promotions Release and Affidavit, which includes confirmation of eligibility, a liability release, and, where lawful, a publicity release.
—AJC.com, 12 Jan. 2026
The publicity staff is pulling out all the stops to arouse interest in the show, including a Hollywood premiere in New York complete with lights, blazing Bat symbols, plush red carpets, champagne and popcorn.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
The show and its publicity tour have dominated social media feeds, group text chats, and even made their way into the conversation on Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper’s New Year’s Eve broadcast.
—Jessica Derschowitz, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for publicity
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
As a condition of receiving the Prize, each potential winner will be required to complete and return a Promotions Release and Affidavit, which includes confirmation of eligibility, a liability release, and, where lawful, a publicity release.
—AJC.com, 12 Jan. 2026
The publicity staff is pulling out all the stops to arouse interest in the show, including a Hollywood premiere in New York complete with lights, blazing Bat symbols, plush red carpets, champagne and popcorn.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
The show and its publicity tour have dominated social media feeds, group text chats, and even made their way into the conversation on Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper’s New Year’s Eve broadcast.
—Jessica Derschowitz, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for publicity
Cite this Entry
“Publicity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/publicity. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
publicity
noun
pub·lic·i·ty
(ˌ)pə-ˈblis-ət-ē
1
: the condition of being public or publicly known
2
: an act or device designed to attract public interest
especially
: information with a news value designed to further the interests of a place, person, or cause
3
a
: an action that gains public attention
b
: the attention so gained
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
