the technique or process of attracting public attention to people, products, etc, as by the use of the mass media (as modifier): a publicity agent public interest resulting from information supplied by such a technique or process information used to draw public attention to people, products, etc the state of being public
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
pub•lic•i•ty /pʌˈblɪsɪti/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- widespread mention in the news media or by word of mouth or other means of communication:wonderful publicity for his new book.
- the technique, process, or business of gaining public notice or mention.
pub•lic•i•ty
(pu blis′i tē),USA pronunciation n.
- extensive mention in the news media or by word of mouth or other means of communication.
- public notice so gained.
- the measures, process, or business of securing public notice.
- information, articles, or advertisements issued to secure public notice or attention.
- the state of being public, or open to general observation or knowledge.
- Medieval Latin pūblicitās. See public, -ity
- French publicité
- 1785–95
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'publicity' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
PA
- account
- advance
- advertising
- air
- ballyhoo
- billing
- blanket
- break
- build up
- buildup
- bumf
- bunkum
- complimentary
- copywriter
- damage control
- dog and pony show
- emblazon
- eye
- factoid
- fanfare
- feature
- flack
- flackery
- flip side
- gimmick
- glasnost
- herald
- high profile
- hoopla
- hype
- ink
- invasion of privacy
- knocking copy
- laugh
- lion
- low profile
- pa
- photocall
- presell
- press agent
- press conference
- press party
- press-agentry
- pretrial
- promote
- publ.
- publicist
- publicize
- puffery