# disinformation

/dɪˌzɪnfɝˈmeɪʃən/ (US) · /dˌɪsˌɪnfəmˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disinformation
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. intentional false information

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

false information that someone spreads on purpose to trick people or hide the truth.

For teachers: false information intentionally disseminated to deliberately confuse, mislead, or manipulate public opinion.

- The government warned that foreign agents were spreading disinformation to influence the election.
- The intelligence agency identified a coordinated campaign of disinformation designed to undermine public trust in the healthcare system during the crisis.

Usage: Uncountable noun; typically used without an article or in the phrase 'a campaign of disinformation'.

### 2. to spread false information

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

to spread lies or false stories on purpose to trick a group of people.

For teachers: to engage in the act of disseminating false or misleading information for strategic or political gain.

- The group tried to disinformation the public by posting fake photos online.
- State actors continue to disinformation domestic populations through highly sophisticated social media bot networks.

Usage: Transitive verb; less common than the noun form and often replaced by 'spread disinformation'.

## Examples

- The government is working to stop the spread of disinformation online.
- Social media platforms are under pressure to identify and remove disinformation that could influence the upcoming election results.
- The rapid spread of disinformation during the crisis led to widespread public panic, forcing health officials to issue daily updates to correct the false narratives circulating on the internet.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.