streisand: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Informal, journalistic, internet/media discourse
Quick answer
What does “streisand” mean?
An eponym derived from the American singer and actress Barbra Streisand, most commonly associated with the 'Streisand Effect' – the phenomenon where an attempt to suppress or censor information leads to the unintended consequence of publicizing that information more widely.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An eponym derived from the American singer and actress Barbra Streisand, most commonly associated with the 'Streisand Effect' – the phenomenon where an attempt to suppress or censor information leads to the unintended consequence of publicizing that information more widely.
Less commonly, can be used as a verb ('to streisand' or 'to pull a Streisand') meaning to inadvertently cause a piece of information to become widely publicized by trying to suppress it. It functions primarily as a proper noun in a lexicalized compound.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The phenomenon is named after an American celebrity, so the cultural reference point is the same.
Connotations
Carries the same connotation of a well-intentioned but counterproductive attempt at control, often with an ironic or cautionary tone.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American media discourse but widely understood in the UK due to global internet culture.
Grammar
How to Use “streisand” in a Sentence
[Subject] triggered a Streisand effect by [verb+ing] the information.The attempt to [verb] it only served to streisand it further.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “streisand” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The celebrity's lawyers sadly streisanded the story by sending a cease-and-desist to every major newspaper.
- You'll only streisand those old tweets if you try to delete them now.
American English
- The company totally streisanded the internal memo by suing the journalist who found it.
- Don't streisand that photo by making a big deal about it.
adjective
British English
- It was a classic Streisand situation, with the council's ban making the protest famous.
American English
- We're trying to avoid a Streisand scenario with this data leak.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A PR disaster where a company's legal threat over a minor blog post goes viral, damaging its reputation.
Academic
Studied in media and communications as a case study in the failure of information control in the digital age.
Everyday
Used when someone's attempt to delete an embarrassing social media post causes it to be screenshotted and shared everywhere.
Technical
A documented psychological and sociological effect relevant to cybersecurity, privacy law, and online community management.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “streisand”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “streisand”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “streisand”
- Misspelling as 'Streisand Effect' (correct) vs. 'Striestand' or 'Strasand'.
- Using it as a general synonym for any backlash, rather than one specifically caused by an attempt to hide information.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an informal, neologistic verb derived from the 'Streisand Effect'. It is understood in relevant contexts (internet, media) but is not part of formal, standard English.
It originated in 2003 when Barbra Streisand sued a photographer to remove an aerial photo of her California mansion from a public collection. The lawsuit drew massive attention to the photo, which had previously been downloaded only a handful of times.
Yes, while supercharged by the internet, the core principle—attempted suppression leading to greater notoriety—is an older phenomenon applicable to book bans, product recalls, or censorship in traditional media.
It uses a person's name to label a social phenomenon, which some may find flippant. However, it is widely established in journalistic and academic discourse as a neutral, descriptive term for the specific effect.
An eponym derived from the American singer and actress Barbra Streisand, most commonly associated with the 'Streisand Effect' – the phenomenon where an attempt to suppress or censor information leads to the unintended consequence of publicizing that information more widely.
Streisand is usually informal, journalistic, internet/media discourse in register.
Streisand: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstraɪzænd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstraɪsænd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to pull a Streisand”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Trying to HIDE a SAND castle (Streisand) only makes everyone come to look at it. Streisand -> Sand -> Trying to hide it brings the crowd.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION IS A FLUID; SUPPRESSION IS CONTAINMENT (A failed container causes a larger spill).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'to pull a Streisand' mean?