Etymology

50 cent army

Today it means: Alleged Internet users who are paid by the authorities of the People's Republic of China to spread propaganda and disinformation on their behalf. Full definition →

Chinese 五毛黨 /五毛党
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The story

  1. Chinese · calque of五毛黨 /五毛党
  2. English today50 cent army

Calque of Chinese 五毛黨 /五毛党 (wǔmáodǎng, literally “the 5 dime party”), in reference to allegations that the Chinese government employs online shills paid 1/2 yuan RMB per online post at the time they first came to public attention.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.