# FUD

/fʌd/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fud
Updated: 2026-07-19

## Definition

Stands for Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. A strategy used to influence people by spreading negative or scary information about a competitor or a product.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. A disinformation strategy involving the dissemination of negative, vague, or alarming information to undermine public confidence in a competitor, product, or technology.

## Examples

- The company spread FUD to stop people from buying the new software.
- Critics of the new cryptocurrency project claimed the negative news reports were merely FUD designed to drive down the market price.
- By weaponising FUD, the incumbent firm successfully delayed the adoption of open-source alternatives, forcing potential clients to remain within their proprietary ecosystem.

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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.