perpetuate

[ per-pech-oo-eyt ]
See synonyms for: perpetuateperpetuatedperpetuatesperpetuating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),per·pet·u·at·ed, per·pet·u·at·ing.
  1. to enable or allow the continuation of into the future; keep alive (used most often in reference to something considered harmful or false):Social media played a significant role in perpetuating political divisions.Vines obscured a plaque intended to perpetuate her memory.

  2. to preserve from extinction or oblivion: to perpetuate one's name;perpetuate the species.

Origin of perpetuate

1
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin perpetuātus (past participle of perpetuāre, derivative of perpetuus “uninterrupted”); see perpetual, -ate1

Other words for perpetuate

Other words from perpetuate

  • per·pet·u·a·ble, adjective
  • per·pet·u·a·tion [per-pech-oo-ey-shuhn], /pərˌpɛtʃ uˈeɪ ʃən/, per·pet·u·ance [per-pech-oo-uhns], /pərˈpɛtʃ u əns/, noun
  • per·pet·u·a·tor, noun
  • un·per·pet·u·a·ble, adjective
  • un·per·pet·u·at·ing, adjective

Words that may be confused with perpetuate

Words Nearby perpetuate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use perpetuate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for perpetuate

perpetuate

/ (pəˈpɛtjʊˌeɪt) /


verb
  1. (tr) to cause to continue or prevail: to perpetuate misconceptions

Origin of perpetuate

1
C16: from Latin perpetuāre to continue without interruption, from perpetuus perpetual

perpetuate

Derived forms of perpetuate

  • perpetuation, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012