WorldAugust 10, 2026

propaganda

prop-uh-GAN-duh

Definition

Biased, misleading, or manipulative information used to promote a specific political cause or point of view.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'propagare', meaning to propagate or spread. It entered English in the 17th century through the Roman Catholic Church's 'Congregatio de Propaganda Fide' (Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith), later evolving into its modern secular and often pejorative sense.

In the news

The article describes the opposition party's claims as cheap political propaganda designed to stir public emotion and cast doubt on the integrity of the judicial system. This term is used to dismiss their rhetoric as a calculated attempt to gain political advantage rather than a pursuit of justice.

The courts, not blackmail, must decide El-Rufai’s fate

Read the full article ↗

The Nation Newspaper

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.