propaganda
UK /ˌpɹɒpəˈɡændə/ · US /ˌpɹɑpəˈɡændə/ noun
Forms propagandas propagand
- noun (as a neutral word dated) Agitation, publicity, public communication aimed at influencing an audience and furthering an agenda. “Despite being biased and often untrue, propaganda material can be useful in OSINT analysis.”
- noun (religion, historical) The propagation of the faith by the Catholic Church by means of missionary work etc.
- noun (derogatory) Such communication specifically when it is biased, misleading, or provoking mainly emotional responses.
Synonyms
Etymology
From New Latin prōpāganda, short for Congregātiō dē Prōpāgandā Fidē (“a committee of cardinals established in 1622 by Gregory XV to supervise foreign missions”, literally “congregation for propagating the faith”), and properly the ablative feminine gerundive of Latin prōpāgō (“propagate”). Once the word had been detached from the phrase from which it originated, it could be reinterpreted as a neuter plural gerundive, meaning "things to be propagated"; compare agenda. Modern political sense dates from World War I, not originally pejorative.
Webster’s 1913
- noun (a) A congregation of cardinals, established in 1622, charged with the management of missions.
- noun Hence, any organization or plan for spreading a particular doctrine or a system of principles.
Etymology [Abbrev. fr. L. de propaganda fide: cf. F. propagande. See Propagate.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “propaganda”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details