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propaganda

prop-uh-GAN-duh /ˌprɒpəˈɡændə/

nounC1GRETOEFLIELTS

Formal

Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.

Always implies a deliberate, often systematic, effort to influence public opinion, typically through emotional appeals and selective or distorted information, usually for political or ideological ends.

The story behind the word. The word "propaganda" comes from the Latin verb `propagare`, meaning "to propagate, to spread, to extend." It originally referred to the "Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith" (Congregatio de Propaganda Fide), established by Pope Gregory XV in 1622 to oversee missionary work. Over time, the term shifted from referring to the spreading of religious doctrine to the spreading of any information, often biased, to influence public opinion, especially in political contexts.

Word relationships

indoctrination: Teaching someone to accept a set of beliefs uncritically. Propaganda is the material; indoctrination is the process.
brainwashing: More extreme, often implying coercive methods to fundamentally alter beliefs.

objective information: Information based on facts, without bias.
truth: That which is in accordance with fact or reality.

Commonly confused with

advertising: "Advertising" promotes products/services, usually for commercial gain; "propaganda" promotes political/ideological views, often for social/political control.

Word family

propagandist (noun): A person who spreads propaganda.
propagandize (verb): To spread propaganda.

Collocations

political propaganda
wartime propaganda
spread propaganda
anti-government propaganda
state propaganda

Example sentences

"During the war, both sides engaged in extensive propaganda campaigns to demonize the enemy and rally support at home." Historical analysis.
"Critics argued that the news channel's coverage was less journalism and more thinly veiled propaganda for a specific political agenda." Modern media critique.

Memory hook

PROPAGANDA: PROmoting AGenda by AN DAngerous amount of biased info. Promote agenda.

When not to use

Don't use for neutral or objective information; it inherently carries a connotation of bias and manipulation.

Fun facts

The term gained its modern, negative connotations during World War I, when it was widely used by warring nations.