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disinformation

dis-in-fer-MAY-shun /ˌdɪsɪnfərˈmeɪʃən/

nounC1SATGRETOEFLIELTS

FormalNeutral

False information, especially that which is intended to deceive.

Disinformation is specifically deliberately created and spread to mislead, often by state actors or political campaigns. It's a calculated act of deception.

The story behind the word. The word 'disinformation' is a relatively recent coinage, believed to be a translation of the Russian 'dezinformatsiya,' which was used by Soviet intelligence agencies in the 1950s to describe their tactics of spreading false information. It combines the prefix 'dis-' (meaning 'apart' or 'away') with 'information,' emphasizing the act of taking information 'apart' or distorting it for deceptive purposes. It specifically highlights the deliberate intent to mislead.

Word relationships

propaganda: Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause.
fabrication: The action or process of inventing something, typically with deceitful intent; a lie.
deception: The action of deceiving someone.

truth: The quality or state of being true.
facts: Information that is known or proved to be true.
accuracy: The quality or state of being correct or precise.

Commonly confused with

misinformation: Disinformation is intentionally false and misleading; misinformation is simply incorrect, regardless of intent.

Collocations

spread disinformation
combat disinformation
disinformation campaign
political disinformation

Example sentences

"The intelligence agency uncovered a sophisticated disinformation campaign aimed at destabilizing the upcoming election." Discussing foreign interference.
"Social media platforms struggle to combat the rapid spread of disinformation, which can have real-world consequences." Analyzing online content.

Memory hook

DISINFORMATION is 'DIS-HONEST INFORMATION' spread with bad intent. Intentional false info

When not to use

Do not use 'disinformation' for unintentional errors or simply incorrect information; 'misinformation' is the appropriate term for that.

Fun facts

The term 'disinformation' gained prominence during the Cold War in the context of psychological warfare.
Modern disinformation campaigns often leverage social media algorithms to amplify their reach and impact.