(ˌ)pəˈblisəd.ē, -sətē, -i noun
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French publicité, from public + -ité -ity
1. : the quality or state of being obvious or exposed to the general view : accessibility to the public
wide open ranks … of desks kept everyone working by mere publicity — Christopher Morley
the publicity of the courtroom — Saturday Review
2.
a. : an act or device designed to attract public interest
regards a whistle-stop tour as good publicity
specifically : information with news value issued as a means of gaining public attention or support
his job is producing publicity for child welfare organizations
the flood of publicity and promotional material that now overloads the desk of everybody in the news business — Elmer Davis
b. : the dissemination of information or promotional material especially by the press and other mass media
felt that the recent wave of publicity on her work … had hurt her professionally — Time
c. : paid advertising
the object of all commercial publicity is to persuade someone to exchange his money for what the advertiser has for sale — H.H.Smith
d. : public attention or acclaim
publicity came … unsought; he was a man who attracted attention — V.G.Heiser
received considerable publicity because of their refusal to accept a … grant for school purposes — American Guide Series: Pennsylvania
e. : the practice or profession of producing promotional material
publicity is a one-way street; public relations, a two-way street — E.L.Bernays
Synonyms:
ballyhoo , promotion , propaganda : publicity refers to any effort to attract public attention whether by furnishing information for dissemination through regular news channels or by paid advertising
recipients of this announcement are requested to give it immediately the widest possible publicity — American Council of Learned Society Scholars
“publicity” was not mainly an art for causing the world to take notice of, and think well of, goods; or of policies which the makers of goods wished to make popular. The word was coming to be synonymous with advertising — Mark Sullivan
actresses bathing in champagne and other publicity stunts
ballyhoo may refer to sensational, strident, or noisy publicity
the patient blindly follows the ballyhoo of the medical charlatan — Police Gazette
promotion suggests concentrated efforts to publicize something new or persuade the public to accept it
attractive promotions of spring clothing helped to allay the usual post-Easter drop in retail volume — Dun's Review
propaganda , the strongest term, usually carries the suggestion of manipulation of public opinion whether through acceptable educational processes or by direct and coercive indoctrination
propaganda means the planned use of all kinds of communications to influence the actions of other peoples — Combat Forces Journal