publicity

[puh-blis-i-tee]

noun

1. extensive mention in the news media or by word of mouth or other means of communication.

2. public notice so gained.

3. the measures, process, or business of securing public notice.

4. information, articles, or advertisements issued to secure public notice or attention.

5. the state of being public, or open to general observation or knowledge.

publicity

/ pʌˈblɪsɪtɪ /

noun

1. 1. the technique or process of attracting public attention to people, products, etc, as by the use of the mass media

   2. ( as modifier )

      a publicity agent

2. public interest resulting from information supplied by such a technique or process

3. information used to draw public attention to people, products, etc

4. the state of being public

Other Word Forms

• nonpublicity noun
• overpublicity noun
• propublicity adjective
• superpublicity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of publicity¹

1785–95; < French publicité < Medieval Latin pūblicitās. See public, -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of publicity¹

C18: via French from Medieval Latin pūblicitās; see _public

Example Sentences

“But at the same time, in terms of publicity and trying to get the show seen by the press, no one was interested,” Bonneville jumps in.

From Los Angeles Times

It was Armani's vision projected by the power of Hollywood - and publicity that money couldn't buy.

From BBC

Israeli authorities have characterised a previous attempt to sail aid to Gaza as a publicity stunt that offered no real humanitarian assistance.

From BBC

A White House spokesperson described Johnson's order as "a publicity stunt."

From BBC

Of course, Sandler, Dern and Crudup are stars in their own right - and all agree the film helped them reflect on their relationships with the people who surround them in the Hollywood publicity machine.

From BBC

Related Words

• attention 
• clout 
• commercial 
• distribution 
• fame 
• hoopla 
• hype 
• noise 
• notoriety 
• propaganda