publicity

noun

pub·​lic·​i·​ty (ˌ)pə-ˈbli-sə-tē How to pronounce publicity (audio)
-ˈbli-stē
Synonyms of publicitynext
1
: the quality or state of being public
2
a
: an act or device designed to attract public interest
specifically : information with news value issued as a means of gaining public attention or support
b
: the dissemination of information or promotional material
c
: paid advertising
d
: public attention or acclaim

Synonyms of publicity

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Examples of publicity in a Sentence

His public appearances are good publicity for the new movie. An arrest for drunk driving is bad publicity for any celebrity. The film has gotten some good publicity. She has received a lot of publicity for her latest novel. The studio spent a lot of money on publicity for the movie.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This burst of publicity was all wrong for her—she was cast as a victim, which was so off brand. — William Finnegan, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 Most winners aren't used to handling millions of dollars, let alone the crush of publicity that comes with a Powerball jackpot. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 28 June 2026 But publicity about trans women competing in women’s sports has produced the opposite effect. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026 The lack of identifiable sites and publicity also means that public engagement is often lacking as well — but that quickly changes when news or information about a discovery reaches people. — Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for publicity

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin pūblicitāt-, pūblicitās, from Latin pūblicus public entry 1 + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of publicity was in 1609

Phrases Containing publicity

Rhymes for publicity

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Browse Nearby Words

publicist
publicity
publicity stunt
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Cite this Entry

“Publicity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/publicity. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

publicity

noun
pub·​lic·​i·​ty (ˌ)pə-ˈblis-ət-ē How to pronounce publicity (audio)
1
: the condition of being public or publicly known
2
: an act or device designed to attract public interest
especially : information with a news value designed to further the interests of a place, person, or cause
3
a
: an action that gains public attention
b
: the attention so gained

More from Merriam-Webster on publicity

Nglish: Translation of publicity for Spanish Speakers

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