I. cam ‧ paign 1 S2 W1 /kæmˈpeɪn/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: French ; Origin: campagne , from Italian campagna 'level country, campaign' , from Late Latin campania 'level country' , from Latin campus ( ⇨ ↑ camp 1 ); because soldiers went out into the country for military exercises ]
1 . a series of actions intended to achieve a particular result relating to politics or business, or a social improvement:
an advertising campaign
campaign for/against
a campaign for equal rights
Jones ran a good campaign.
Police have launched a campaign to crack down on drug dealers.
2 . a series of battles, attacks etc intended to achieve a particular result in a war
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ launch/mount a campaign (=begin a campaign)
They have launched a campaign to end world poverty.
▪ run/wage/conduct a campaign (=carry out a campaign)
He ran an aggressive campaign.
▪ lead a campaign
The government is leading a 'walk to school' campaign.
▪ spearhead a campaign (=lead it – used especially in news reports)
The campaign was spearheaded by the Students' Union.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + campaign
▪ a national/nationwide campaign
The walk was part of a national campaign to raise £900,000.
▪ a worldwide/global/international campaign
a worldwide campaign for peace
▪ an advertising/marketing/sales campaign
The store ran a television advertising campaign just before Christmas.
▪ a publicity campaign (=to tell the public about something)
The interview was the start of a publicity campaign for his new book.
▪ an election/electoral campaign
He was candidate in the 2008 election campaign.
▪ a presidential campaign
Obama's presidential campaign
▪ a political campaign
She was involved in many political campaigns.
▪ a media/press campaign
The government spent thousands of pounds on a media campaign.
▪ a fundraising campaign (=to get money for something)
The church is launching a £50,000 fundraising campaign for the renovation work.
▪ an anti-smoking/anti-bullying etc campaign
How effective has the anti-smoking campaign been?
▪ a smear campaign (=in which unpleasant or untrue stories are spread about an important person)
He claims he was the victim of a smear campaign.
▪ a long campaign
Her father fought a long campaign for an investigation to be held.
▪ an effective/successful campaign
The Conservatives failed to mount an effective campaign.
▪ a strong campaign (=forceful and effective)
The car was the subject of a strong advertising campaign.
▪ a determined campaign
His wife waged a determined campaign for his release.
▪ a vicious campaign (=very unpleasant and designed to attack someone)
The state had conducted a vicious campaign of misinformation and propaganda.
▪ a deliberate/concerted campaign (=done by people in a determined way)
There was a concerted campaign to attract more women into the armed forces.
▪ an orchestrated campaign disapproving (=organized secretly to make political events happen in the way you want)
This resulted in an orchestrated campaign of civil disorder.
▪ a sustained campaign (=lasting a long time)
The organization has mounted a sustained campaign against the killing of endangered species.
■ campaign + NOUN
▪ campaign funds/money
He was found guilty of using campaign funds illegally.
▪ a campaign manager (=for a political campaign)
She's a campaign manager for Amnesty International.
▪ the campaign trail (=the places someone visits as part of their election campaign)
Iowa was the first stop on the presidential campaign trail.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say ' make a campaign '. Say launch a campaign .
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THESAURUS
■ when people try to achieve something
▪ fight the process in which people try to stop something bad from happening or to improve a situation:
Schools have an important part to play in the fight against drugs.
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women’s fight for equality
▪ battle a fight to change a situation or deal with a problem in society:
The battle against racial discrimination is not over.
▪ campaign a planned series of actions intended to achieve something:
Motoring organizations started a campaign for safer roads.
▪ struggle a long, hard fight for freedom, independence, equal rights etc:
Nkrumah led the people in their struggle for independence.
▪ crusade someone’s fight against something they think is morally wrong:
She intends to continue her crusade against sex and violence on TV.
II. campaign 2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
to lead or take part in a series of actions intended to achieve a particular social or political result
campaign for/against
a group campaigning against the destruction of the rain forests
—campaigner noun [countable]