propaganda
prop-uh-GAN-duh
/ˌprɒp.əˈɡæn.də/
Information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, or nation.
Implies a centralized organ, institution, or authority pushing an ideological agenda using emotional appeal rather than balanced reasoning.
The story behind the word. The term originates from the 1622 Catholic Church organization 'Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide' ('Sacred Congregation for Propagating the Faith'), created by Pope Gregory XV to spread Christianity. It carried a neutral or positive meaning until World War I, when aggressive government mass-media operations gave it a pejorative tone.
Word relationships
- indoctrination: The process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically.
- hype: Extravagant or intensive promotion; less focused on political power.
- impartial reportage: Neutral objective news delivery free from ideological agenda.
Commonly confused with
- advertising: Advertising seeks to sell commercial products; propaganda seeks to control ideology or political power.
Word family
- propagandist (noun): A person who produces or spreads propaganda.
- propagandize (verb): To spread propaganda for a cause.
Collocations
- political propaganda
- state propaganda
- wartime propaganda
- propaganda machine
Idioms & expressions
- party line
- spin doctoring
Example sentences
- "Wartime propaganda posters urged citizens to conserve food and buy government war bonds." Historical Analysis
- "The state-controlled media network operated as a mouthpiece for official government propaganda." Political Science
Memory hook
PROPAGANDA PROP-agates (spreads) an agenda to control your mind. Spreading political claims to sway the public.
When not to use
Do not use for routine commercial advertising unless it heavily uses political indoctrination methods.
Fun facts
- Before WWI, the word propaganda was used neutrally in European universities to mean 'public relations for ideas'.
Related words
Explore more words
disseminate, disinformation, canard, promulgate, campaign, provoke
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