/ pʌbˈlɪsəti; NAmE / noun [ U ]
1.
the attention that is given to sb/sth by newspapers, television, etc. :
good / bad / adverse publicity
There has been a great deal of publicity surrounding his disappearance.
The trial took place amid a blaze of (= a lot of) publicity .
2.
the business of attracting the attention of the public to sth/sb; the things that are done to attract attention :
She works in publicity.
There has been a lot of advance publicity for her new film.
publicity material
a publicity campaign
The band dressed up as the Beatles as a publicity stunt .
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WORD ORIGIN
late 18th cent.: from French publicité , from public public, from Latin publicus , blend of poplicus of the people (from populus people) and pubes adult.