50 cent army

noun

Alleged Internet users who are paid by the authorities of the People's Republic of China to spread propaganda and disinformation on their behalf.

“For quotations using this term, see Citations:50 cent army.”

Similar
wumaos
OriginChinese 五毛黨 /五毛党 →
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Meanings

noun

alternative fifty cent army · alternative fifty-cent army · alternative 50-cent army

  1. Alleged Internet users who are paid by the authorities of the People's Republic of China to spread propaganda and disinformation on their behalf.

    For quotations using this term, see Citations:50 cent army.

  2. derogatoryAnyone seen as supportive of China or the Communist Party of China, regardless of payment or compensation.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
wumaos
Broader
keyboard army
Also see
wumao

Origin

  1. Chinese五毛黨 /五毛党
  2. English50 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.

More words from Chinese

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 五毛黨 /五毛党
  • 五毛黨 /五毛党 (wǔmáodǎng)Translations
Japanese 五毛党
  • 五毛党 (gomōtō)Translations
Polish wumao
  • wumaoTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

50 cent army. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/50%20cent%20army

MLA

“50 cent army.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/50%20cent%20army. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “50 cent army,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/50%20cent%20army.

Source: 50 cent army on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.