Publicity

Definition

Publicity refers to the deliberate effort to manage the public's perception of a subject. It also pertains to the state of being public or known to the general population.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /pʌbˈlɪsɪti/
• Respelling: puhb-LIS-i-tee (with "puhb" as in "public," "LIS" as in "list," and "i-tee" as in "entity")

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /pʌbˈlɪsɪti/
• Respelling: puhb-LIS-i-tee (similar to American English, with "puhb" as in "public," "LIS" as in "list," and "i-tee" as in "entity")

In both dialects, "publicity" is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable, "LIS." The pronunciation remains consistent across both American and British English, emphasizing the "LIS" part clearly.

Etymology

"Publicity" stems from the Old French "publicité," which translates to "public" or "public condition." It can be traced back further to the Latin "publicus," denoting "public" or "of the people."

Derivatives

• Publicist
• Publicize
• Publicized
• Publicity stunt
• Publicity campaign

Synonyms

• Exposure
• Promotion
• Advertisement

Antonyms

• Secrecy
• Obscurity
• Privacy

Usage

"Publicity" is commonly utilized in the context of media, marketing, and communications to describe efforts or actions aimed at capturing the attention of the public or specific audiences. It can refer to both the practice of garnering attention and the actual attention received.

Related Terms

• Press release
• Media coverage
• Promotional campaign
• Public relations
• Marketing

Detailed Definition

Noun

• The act, process, or means of making something or someone widely known; promotion in the media.
• Example: The movie garnered a lot of publicity through its controversial theme.

• Information or actions designed to attract public interest, usually provided by someone not directly connected with the subject matter.
• Example: The celebrity's sudden wedding was thought to be a publicity stunt.

• The state or condition of being known to the general public or being in the public eye.
• Example: The young author was unaccustomed to such widespread publicity.