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public relations

PUB-lik ri-LAY-shunz /ˌpʌblɪk rɪˈleɪʃənz/

nounB2TOEFLIELTS

formalneutral

The professional maintenance of a favorable public image by a company or other organization or a famous person.

Often abbreviated as PR, it encompasses a wide range of activities aimed at building and maintaining a positive relationship between an organization and its various publics (customers, employees, investors, media, etc.). It's about strategic communication.

The story behind the word. The term 'public relations' emerged in the early 20th century, though the practice of influencing public opinion dates back much further. Edward Bernays, often called the 'father of public relations,' formalized many of its techniques in the 1920s, shifting it from mere press agentry to a more strategic, two-way communication process between an organization and its publics.

Word relationships

PR: Common abbreviation for 'public relations'.
corporate communications: Broader term, often encompassing internal and external communication, including PR.

Commonly confused with

advertising: Advertising is paid media; public relations is earned media (e.g., news articles, features).
marketing: Marketing focuses on selling products/services; PR focuses on reputation and relationships.

Word family

publicly (adverb): in a way that is open to or observable by the public

Collocations

effective public relations
corporate public relations
public relations strategy
public relations firm

Example sentences

"Effective public relations is crucial for any brand looking to build trust and maintain a positive standing in the market." Discussing the strategic importance of communication.
"The company's public relations department worked tirelessly to manage the media fallout from the product recall." Referring to a department within a company.

Memory hook

Think of 'PR' as 'People's Rapport' – it's all about building good relationships with the public. People's Rapport

When not to use

Avoid using 'public relations' when you simply mean 'advertising' or 'marketing'; while related, PR focuses on earned media and reputation, not direct sales or paid placements.

Fun facts

The first corporate public relations department was established by Westinghouse in 1889.
Edward Bernays, Sigmund Freud's nephew, used psychological principles to influence public opinion, famously helping to make smoking fashionable for women.

Related words

publicist, reputation, image

Explore more words

publicist, diplomacy, Advertising, positioning, campaign, propaganda