promulgate

USAGE SUMMARY

"promulgate" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of making a law, rule, or regulation known to or accepted by a large number of people. For example: "The government has recently promulgated a new law to protect workers' rights."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

King, who did more than any other British official to promulgate the adoption of "inflation-targeting", made an impassioned plea last week for its preservation, including, in his speech in Belfast, a history of all those inflationary problems of the 1970s, and the long struggle to bring inflation down to tolerable rates.

The Guardian - Business

At a time of exaggerated doubts about the instrumental temperature record, this should help promulgate its main conclusion: that the existing mean estimates are in the right ballpark.

The Economist

See articleIn a sudden about-turn, Mexico's president, Vicente Fox, refused to promulgate a bill that would have legalised the possession of small quantities of drugs, both hard and soft.

The Economist

He may feel that since he does not represent the clean break that voters hoped for, he should promulgate a more reformist agenda than his predecessor did.

The Economist

In today's climate, with various prosecutors, regulators and legislators vying to promulgate new rules not just for Wall Street but for all of American corporate governance, that is disastrous.

The Economist

And Mr Obama's administration will probably hesitate to ram through dramatic emissions cuts by decree, for fear of appearing undemocratic.Even if officials around America do promulgate fierce regulations, those will take some time to come into force, and are bound to be the subject of endless lawsuits.

The Economist

And President Fernando Henrique Cardoso is expected soon to promulgate another new law aimed at another kind of butchery: that of the environment.Brazilian driving habits will be hard enough to change.

The Economist

An organisation called the Global Business Council on HIV/AIDS, which has about 100 member firms, is trying to co-ordinate such initiatives, and promulgate common standards for businesses that want to follow suit.Anyone who had a HAARTRaising money to combat AIDS is, however, but half the battle.

The Economist

The Council of Institutional Investors has said that it is in "the corporation's and all shareholders' best financial interest" for companies to promulgate "a narrowly-drawn definition of an independent director".

The Economist

It is also constitutionally dubious because the president can promulgate short-term ordinances by decree only when parliament is not in session.

The Economist

BICEP2's researchers were criticised in some quarters for rushing to promulgate their discovery prematurely.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "promulgate" when you want to convey a formal and official announcement or implementation of a law, rule, or idea. Ensure the context is appropriate for its formal tone.

Common error

Avoid using "promulgate" in casual conversation or informal writing. It sounds overly formal and can be replaced with simpler, more accessible alternatives like "announce" or "spread the word".

Linguistic Context

The verb "promulgate" functions as a declarative action, signifying the official announcement or publication of a law, decree, or doctrine. Ludwig examples show it used when authorities make rules known.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

33%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

6%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "promulgate" is a verb best used in formal contexts to describe the official declaration or publication of laws, rules, or doctrines. As Ludwig highlights, it's grammatically correct and frequently found in news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. While it conveys authority and formality, it should be avoided in casual settings where simpler alternatives suffice. Remember to use it when conveying a sense of official announcement and widespread dissemination. By understanding its function, purpose, and appropriate register, you can effectively use "promulgate" to enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

declare officially

Similar to "promulgate" but emphasizes the act of making a formal declaration.

issue a decree

Implies a formal command or order being released.

announce publicly

Replaces the formal tone of "promulgate" with a more general term for making information known.

enact

Specifically refers to establishing a law or regulation.

make widely known

Focuses on the dissemination of information to a broad audience.

disseminate

A more technical term for spreading information widely.

put into effect

Emphasizes the implementation aspect of making something operative.

publicize

Focuses on actively promoting something to gain public attention.

introduce

Emphasizes bringing something new into use or awareness.

spread the word

An informal alternative, suitable for less formal contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "promulgate" in a sentence?

You can use "promulgate" to describe the act of officially declaring or making a law, rule, or idea widely known. For example, "The government decided to "promulgate" the new environmental regulations."

What are some alternatives to "promulgate"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "announce publicly", "declare officially", or "make widely known".

Is "promulgate" the same as "enact"?

"Promulgate" means to make something known or public, whereas "enact" means to make something law. They are related but not interchangeable; you can "promulgate" a law after it has been enacted.

When is it appropriate to use "promulgate"?

Use "promulgate" in formal contexts when referring to the official declaration or publication of a law, rule, or doctrine. Avoid using it in informal settings where simpler words like "announce" would be more appropriate.