disinformation
Disinformation (noun) means False information spread on purpose to mislead people. Example: “The government accused the website of spreading disinformation about the election.”
How to use disinformation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLies or false claims spread deliberately, as opposed to honest mistakes.
Misinformation is simply wrong information, regardless of intent; disinformation specifically implies it was created or spread to deceive on purpose.
Word forms
disinformationed past tense, disinformations singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The government accused the website of spreading _____ about the election.
Etymology
From dis- + information. The word took on its modern sense of deliberately planted false information in English around 1939, borrowed from the Russian dezinformatsiya used by Soviet intelligence.
Rhymes for disinformation
Frequently asked questions
What does “disinformation” mean?
The word “disinformation” means false information spread on purpose to mislead people. In plain terms, lies or false claims spread deliberately, as opposed to honest mistakes.
How do you pronounce “disinformation”?
“Disinformation” is pronounced dih-sihn-fuh-MAYSHN (/ˌdɪsɪnfɚˈmeɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “disinformation” in a sentence?
Here is “disinformation” used in a sentence: “The government accused the website of spreading disinformation about the election.”
What part of speech is “disinformation”?
“Disinformation” is a noun.
Where does the word “disinformation” come from?
The word “disinformation” dates back to around 1939 and comes from Russian. From dis- + information. The word took on its modern sense of deliberately planted false information in English around 1939, borrowed from the Russian dezinformatsiya used by Soviet intelligence.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include disinformation: