Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To make known to the public; popularize or advocate.
  • transitive verb To put (a law, for example) into effect by formal public announcement.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To make known by open declaration, as laws, decrees, or tidings; publish; announce; proclaim.
  • Synonyms Declare, Announce, Proclaim, etc. See announce.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To make known by open declaration, as laws, decrees, or tidings; to publish.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb transitive To make known or public.
  • verb transitive To put into effect as a regulation.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb state or announce
  • verb put a law into effect by formal declaration

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin prōmulgāre, prōmulgāt-.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin promulgatus, past participle of promulgō ("I make known, publish"), either from provulgō ("I make known, publish"), from pro ("forth") + vulgō ("I publish") or mulgeō ("I milk"), latter used in metaphorical sense of “to bring forth”. Compare promulge.

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Examples

  • Their first step was a high-handed approach to the agents, insisting they could simply "promulgate" SAG's authority over all actor's contracts and take legal action if the ATA, the agents 'organization, didn't toe the line.

    Mike Farrell: The Gang that Couldn't Shoot Straight Strikes Again 2009

  • A babble of disgust rose from the Labour benches who were even unimpressed by the fact that Brian managed to use the word "promulgate" in mid-insult.

    Irish Blogs 2010

  • During an interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News which aired Sunday September 7, 2009, Barack Obama bemoaned what he claimed were insidious Republican attempts to "promulgate," falsely, his "Muslim connections."

    YID With LID 2008

  • During an interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News which aired Sunday September 7, 2009, Barack Obama bemoaned what he claimed were insidious Republican attempts to "promulgate," falsely, his "Muslim connections."

    American Thinker 2008

  • They should try as much as possible to promulgate a policy that will reach the grass roots, he said.

    New Nigerian Cabinet Faces High Expectations 2011

  • They should try as much as possible to promulgate a policy that will reach the grass roots, he said.

    New Nigerian Cabinet Faces High Expectations 2011

  • Though he's more than willing to embrace the seemingly limitless potential for digital media to promulgate new ideas, Darnton's real argument is that the printed book will never be entirely replaced -- and that, ultimately, the printed book is irreplaceable.

    Archive 2010-05-01 2010

  • While government at the local level has the discipline of real work and public visibility when they manage our transportation, parks, schools, and environment; the federal government and its staff seem several steps removed from the reality of the rules they promulgate and the regulations they enforce.

    Steven Cohen: We Need a Smart, Agile and Innovative Environmental Police Force Steven Cohen 2011

  • Though he's more than willing to embrace the seemingly limitless potential for digital media to promulgate new ideas, Darnton's real argument is that the printed book will never be entirely replaced -- and that, ultimately, the printed book is irreplaceable.

    Today's Book Review 2010

  • Do they promulgate a conservative ascendency when they fail to draw real lines between them and the other party?

    Meet Rob Simmons (R CAND, CT-SEN). | RedState 2010

Comments

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  • Also, something like propagate.

    December 4, 2007

  • How odd that I would happen upon your commentary while submitting new words. I believe this one is a favorite of our World History book's authors?

    March 3, 2008

  • prom-uhl-geyt, proh-muhl-geyt

    –verb (used with object), -gat·ed, -gat·ing. 1. to make known by open declaration; publish; proclaim formally or put into operation (a law, decree of a court, etc.).

    2. to set forth or teach publicly (a creed, doctrine, etc.).

    September 22, 2008