1 promulgate | Definition of promulgate

promulgate

verb
pro·​mul·​gate | \ ˈprä-məl-ˌgāt How to pronounce promulgate (audio) ; prō-ˈməl-, prə-ˈməl-, ˈprō-(ˌ)məl- How to pronounce promulgate (audio) \
promulgated; promulgating

Definition of promulgate

transitive verb

1 : to make (an idea, belief, etc.) known to many people by open declaration : proclaim … the huge meeting served primarily as the occasion on which to promulgate the official doctrine …— Roger Shattuck From the beginning our objective has been to develop and promulgate new models for the calculus-based introductory course.— John S. Rigden et al.
2a : to make known or public the terms of (a proposed law) The law was promulgated in February 1993.
b : to put (a law or rule) into action or force … more than 200 colleges and universities have promulgated behavioral codes that punish various forms of harassment …— Ken Myers

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Other Words from promulgate

promulgation \ ˌprä-​məl-​ˈgā-​shən How to pronounce promulgation (audio) ; ˌprō-​(ˌ)məl-​ , (ˌ)prō-​ˌməl-​ \ noun
promulgator \ ˈprä-​məl-​ˌgā-​tər How to pronounce promulgator (audio) ; prō-​ˈməl-​ , prə-​ˈməl-​ , ˈprō-​(ˌ)məl-​ \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for promulgate

declare, announce, proclaim, promulgate mean to make known publicly. declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known. the referee declared the contest a draw announce implies the declaration of something for the first time. announced their engagement at a party proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively. the president proclaimed a national day of mourning promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law. promulgated an edict of religious toleration

Did You Know?

The origin of promulgate is a bit murky, or perhaps we should say "milky." It comes from Latin promulgatus, which in turn derives from pro-, meaning "forward," and -mulgare, a form that is probably related to the verb mulgēre, meaning "to milk" or "to extract." Mulgēre is an ancestor of the English word emulsion ("mixture of mutually insoluble liquids"), and it is also related to the Old English word that became milk itself. Like its synonyms declare, announce, and proclaim, promulgate means to make known publicly. It particularly implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law.

Examples of promulgate in a Sentence

Her ideas have been widely promulgated on the Internet. The law was promulgated in April 1988.

Recent Examples on the Web

While fads bubble up organically, management fashions are manufactured and promulgated by consultants and business schools who profit from their adoption. Oliver Staley, Quartz at Work, "Whatever happened to Six Sigma?," 3 Sep. 2019 The new rules, promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency, would also limit what information states and tribes can consider and request in their certification decisions. oregonlive.com, "Trump rewriting rules to expedite gas pipeline projects, including Jordan Cove and Pacific Connector projects in southern Oregon," 27 Aug. 2019 Those seeking to promulgate these regulations should undertake to understand the cultural, economic, and geographic challenges faced by Colorado’s agriculture sector and working families. Sara Almerri, The Denver Post, "Guest Commentary: The darker side of the zero-emission vehicle mandate — higher costs and older cars on the road," 12 Aug. 2019 The case hits close to home for the Vatican, which is accused of having disregarded the warnings of the alleged Italian victims of Corradi, when just months earlier the pope had promulgated new rules to combat abuse in the church. Washington Post, "Trial for priests accused of abusing deaf Argentine students," 5 Aug. 2019 Major banks, for example, are thriving today under the 850-page Dodd Frank Act, which according to law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell required that federal agencies promulgate more than 300 new rules, studies and periodic reviews. Adam Seessel, Fortune, "Valuation: I’m a Google Shareholder. Here’s Why I Think More Regulation Would Be Good for Google," 26 July 2019 The fact that retirement savings are at an all-time high and savings rates have remained stable as plan offerings have changed defies the claim that the shift to 401(k)s promulgated a retirement crisis. Josh B. Mcgee, Twin Cities, "Josh B. McGee: What retirement savings crisis?," 21 July 2019 The 11-turbine facility was completed last summer, but not before Trump had unleashed a windstorm of tweets between 2012 and 2014, promulgating various theories that made wind energy the scourge of our times. Karen Heller, Washington Post, "The story of Donald Trump’s feud with his one true nemesis: Windmills," 15 Aug. 2019 As part of its effort to promulgate African and African American heritage and culture, Black Arts Fest MKE will feature local visual artists in the Burke Properties Fine Arts Pavilion. Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "The headliners and the details you need to know for Black Arts Fest MKE," 29 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'promulgate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of promulgate

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for promulgate

Latin promulgatus, past participle of promulgare, from pro- forward + -mulgare (probably akin to mulgēre to milk, extract) — more at emulsion

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More Definitions for promulgate

promulgate

verb

English Language Learners Definition of promulgate

formal : to make (an idea, belief, etc.) known to many people
technical : to make (a new law) known officially and publicly

promulgate

transitive verb
prom·​ul·​gate | \ ˈprä-məl-ˌgāt, prō-ˈməl- How to pronounce promulgate (audio) \