disinformation
diss-in-fer-MAY-shun
/ˌdɪs.ɪn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən/
False or misleading information deliberately spread to deceive, confuse, or manipulate an audience.
Strictly requires malicious intent and outright falsity; it is a calculated instrument of psychological warfare.
The story behind the word. The term entered English in the 1950s as a direct translation of the Russian 'dezinformatsiya', an official Soviet KGB term for covert operational intelligence designed to mislead foreign governments and public opinion.
Word relationships
- fabrication: A fabrication is an invented lie, whereas disinformation is a structured intelligence or media operation.
- propaganda: Propaganda is a broad agenda-driven messaging effort, whereas disinformation is specifically engineered false data meant to deceive.
- fact: A fact represents verifiable reality rather than intentional falsehood.
- truth: Truth represents genuine reality without deceit.
Commonly confused with
- misinformation: Disinformation is intentionally false, while misinformation includes unintended mistakes shared in good faith.
Word family
- disinform (verb): To give deliberately false information to deceive an opponent.
Collocations
- spread disinformation
- disinformation campaign
- combat disinformation
- digital disinformation
Example sentences
- "Foreign intelligence agencies deployed digital disinformation to sow public distrust ahead of national elections." Media literacy study
- "The military operation relied on targeted disinformation to conceal the actual location of the upcoming coastal landing." Military defense reporting
Memory hook
DIS-HONEST INFORMATION created on purpose is DISINFORMATION. Deliberate lies engineered to deceive.
When not to use
Do not use when someone makes an honest factual error without intending to trick people.
Fun facts
- The KGB chose the French-sounding Russian word 'dezinformatsiya' partly to make Western nations believe the practice originated in France.
Related words
Explore more words
misinformation, deceitful, canard, disingenuous, distortion, disseminate
Also appears in
- Media, Journalism & Publishing → News Reporting & Investigative Journalism
- Media, Journalism & Publishing → Misinformation & Media Literacy
- Media, Journalism & Publishing → Censorship & Freedom of Speech
- Media, Journalism & Publishing → Media Bias & Objective Reporting
- Media, Journalism & Publishing → Public Relations & Spin
- Media, Journalism & Publishing → Algorithms & Echo Chambers
- Military Science & Warfare → Cyber Warfare & Sabotage
- Military Science & Warfare → Intelligence & Espionage
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