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promulgate

/ˌprɑməlˈgeɪt/
/ˈprɒməlgeɪt/
IPA guide

Other forms: promulgated; promulgating; promulgates

To promulgate is to officially put a law into effect. Your state may announce a plan to promulgate a new traffic law on January 1st.

Laws aren't the only things you can promulgate. The word promulgate comes from the Latin word promulgatus, meaning "make publicly known." Someone can promulgate values, belief systems, and philosophies — it just means they're promoted or made public. For example, you might write an article to promulgate the benefits of eating only organic foods.

Definitions of promulgate
  1. verb
    state or announce
    synonyms: exclaim, proclaim
    see moresee less
    types:
    declare
    proclaim one's support, sympathy, or opinion for or against
    trumpet
    proclaim on, or as if on, a trumpet
    clarion
    proclaim on, or as if on, a clarion
    type of:
    declare
    state emphatically and authoritatively
  2. verb
    put a law into effect by formal declaration
    see moresee less
    type of:
    announce, declare
    announce publicly or officially
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘promulgate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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