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Definition of propaganda - 5 dictionary results

prop⋅a⋅gan⋅da

  [prop-uh-gan-duh]
Use propaganda in a Sentence
–noun
1. information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.
2. the deliberate spreading of such information, rumors, etc.
3. the particular doctrines or principles propagated by an organization or movement.
4. Roman Catholic Church.
a. a committee of cardinals, established in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV, having supervision over foreign missions and the training of priests for these missions.
b. a school (College of Propaganda) established by Pope Urban VIII for the education of priests for foreign missions.
5. Archaic. an organization or movement for the spreading of propaganda.
Origin:
1710–20; < NL, short for congregātiō dē propāgandā fidē congregation for propagating the faith; propāgandā, abl. sing. fem. gerundive of propāgāre; see propagate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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prop·a·gan·da   (prŏp'ə-gān'də)   
n.  
  1. The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause.
  2. Material disseminated by the advocates or opponents of a doctrine or cause: wartime propaganda.
  3. Propaganda Roman Catholic Church A division of the Roman Curia that has authority in the matter of preaching the gospel, of establishing the Church in non-Christian countries, and of administering Church missions in territories where there is no properly organized hierarchy.

[Short for New Latin Sacra Congregātiō dē Prōpagandā Fidē, Sacred Congregation for Propagating the Faith (established 1622), from ablative feminine gerundive of Latin prōpāgāre, to propagate; see propagate.]
prop'a·gan'dism n., prop'a·gan'dist n., prop'a·gan·dis'tic adj., prop'a·gan·dis'ti·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Propaganda

Prop`a*gan"da\, n. [Abbrev. fr. L. de propaganda fide: cf. F. propagande. See Propagate.]

1. (R. C. Ch.) (a) A congregation of cardinals, established in 1622, charged with the management of missions. (b) The college of the Propaganda, instituted by Urban VIII. (1623-1644) to educate priests for missions in all parts of the world.

2. Hence, any organization or plan for spreading a particular doctrine or a system of principles.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : propaganda
Spanish: propaganda,
German: die Propaganda,
Japanese: 宣伝
More Translations »

propaganda

Official government communications to the public that are designed to influence opinion. The information may be true or false, but it is always carefully selected for its political effect.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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propaganda 
1718, from Mod.L. propaganda, short for Congregatio de Propaganda Fide "congregation for propagating the faith," committee of cardinals established 1622 by Gregory XV to supervise foreign missions, prop. abl. fem. gerundive of L. propagare (see propagation). Modern political sense dates from World War I, not originally pejorative.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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