publicity English · revision 10577

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1791|origins=fr publicité}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /pʌbˈlɪs.ə.ti/, US /pʌbˈlɪs.ə.t̬i/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|publicité]] (1690s),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Medieval Latin pūblicitās,^(Etymonline) from Latin pūblicus (see [[public]]) and -ité (see [[-ity]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The condition of being public or open to observation: 1791 in Barnhart, Etymonline and the OED;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Merriam-Webster gives 1609.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The act of making something publicly known, public notice, is first recorded in 1826, in Audubon's journal,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) and shaded by about 1900 into advertising and the business of promotion.^(Etymonline) A ''publicity stunt'' is recorded by 1908,^(Etymonline) and compounds such as publicity agent from 1911.^(OED 1989) ''Publicize'' is from 1928.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1791 – the state of being public.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1826 – public notice.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1900 – advertising, promotion.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1908 – publicity stunt.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1928 – publicize.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Information spread through the [[media]] to attract public notice to a person, product or event.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Public interest or notice gained in this way.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The work or business of attracting public attention; [[promotion]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nonpublicity]]

+ * [[overpublicity]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[public]]

+ * [[publicist]]

+ * [[publicness]]

+ * [[publicize]]

+ * [[publish]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}