disinform: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, academic, journalistic, political, security-related.
Quick answer
What does “disinform” mean?
To deliberately provide people with false or misleading information, especially for political or strategic purposes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To deliberately provide people with false or misleading information, especially for political or strategic purposes.
The act of disseminating false information with the specific intent to deceive, manipulate public opinion, or create confusion, often as a systematic strategy by governments, intelligence agencies, or other powerful actors.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both variants equally recognise the term.
Connotations
Both strongly associated with state-level propaganda, espionage, cyber-warfare, and political manipulation.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American political and media discourse due to discussions around election interference, but widely used in both contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “disinform” in a Sentence
[Agent] disinforms [Recipient] about [Topic][Agent] disinforms [Recipient] regarding [Topic][Agent] is disinforming [Recipient]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “disinform” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The tabloids have been known to disinform the public on health scares.
- Intelligence agencies may disinform enemy operatives to protect an asset.
American English
- The PAC was accused of trying to disinform voters ahead of the midterms.
- Foreign actors continue to disinform the American public via social media.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; use 'misleadingly')
American English
- (Not standard; use 'misleadingly')
adjective
British English
- (Not standard; use 'misleading' or part of noun phrase 'disinformation campaign')
American English
- (Not standard; use 'misleading' or part of noun phrase 'disinformation campaign')
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in corporate espionage contexts: 'The competitor tried to disinform our clients about the product launch.'
Academic
Common in political science, media studies, and security studies: 'The regime used state media to disinform the populace about the economic crisis.'
Everyday
Uncommon in casual conversation. Used when discussing serious politics or media: 'I think that news story is designed to disinform us.'
Technical
Core term in information warfare, cybersecurity, and intelligence analysis: 'The botnet's primary function was to disinform and polarise online communities.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “disinform”
Strong
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “disinform”
- Using 'disinform' for accidental false information (use 'misinform').
- Misspelling as 'desinform' or 'disinformation' (as a verb).
- Using it in a trivial context (e.g., 'He disinformed me about the movie time').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Misinform' means to give someone false information, which can be accidental. 'Disinform' is always a deliberate, malicious act intended to deceive.
It is possible but very rare. The term carries such strong connotations of organised deception (state, media, corporate strategy) that it sounds odd for trivial lies. 'Lie to' or 'mislead' is more natural for everyday contexts.
No. It entered English in the mid-20th century (circa 1950s), calqued from the Russian "дезинформировать" and gained prominence during the Cold War. Its use has surged in the 21st century with the rise of cyber-warfare and social media manipulation.
The noun is 'disinformation'. The related agent noun is 'disinformer'.
To deliberately provide people with false or misleading information, especially for political or strategic purposes.
Disinform is usually formal, academic, journalistic, political, security-related. in register.
Disinform: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɪs.ɪnˈfɔːm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɪs.ɪnˈfɔːrm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A campaign of disinformation”
- “To spread disinformation”
- “To be a victim of disinformation”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DIShonest INFORMation. To DIS-INFORM is to give dishonest information on purpose.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A WEAPON / POISON. Disinformation is seen as a tool to attack, weaken, or poison the public mind.
Practice
Quiz
What is the key element that distinguishes 'disinform' from 'misinform'?