astroturfing

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noun

The disguising of an orchestrated campaign as a "grass-roots" event, i.e., a spontaneous upwelling of public opinion.

Similar
front organization
Scrabble 16
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Meanings

astroturfing1

nounastroturfing (uncountable)
  1. uncountablenow social mediabusinessThe disguising of an orchestrated campaign as a "grass-roots" event, i.e., a spontaneous upwelling of public opinion.

    Synonyms: front organization

Astroturfing2

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of Astroturf

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe disguising of an orchestrated campaign as a "grass-roots" event, i.e., a spontaneous upwelling of public opinion.

Similar
front organization

Origin

From AstroTurf (“a synthetic substitute for grass”), a play on grass roots, as in “fake grass roots”. Attributed to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen in an unidentified 1985 public statement: "[A] fellow from Texas can tell the difference between grassroots and Astroturf."

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 假草根運動 /假草根运动, 偽草根 /伪草根
  • 假草根運動 /假草根运动 (jiǎ cǎogēn yùndòng)disguising of an orchestrated campaign
  • 偽草根 /伪草根 (wěi cǎogēn)disguising of an orchestrated campaign
Dutch astroturfing
  • astroturfingdisguising of an orchestrated campaign
Finnish astroturffaus, mielipiteiden ostaminen
  • astroturffausdisguising of an orchestrated campaign
  • mielipiteiden ostaminendisguising of an orchestrated campaign
  • tekonurmetusdisguising of an orchestrated campaign
French astroturfing
  • astroturfingdisguising of an orchestrated campaign
German Vortäuschen einer Basisbewegung, Tarnung einer Kampagne als Volksbewegung
  • Vortäuschen einer Basisbewegungdisguising of an orchestrated campaign
  • Tarnung einer Kampagne als Volksbewegungdisguising of an orchestrated campaign
Polish astroturfing
  • astroturfingdisguising of an orchestrated campaign
Portuguese astroturfing
  • astroturfingdisguising of an orchestrated campaign
Cite this entry
APA

astroturfing. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/astroturfing

MLA

“astroturfing.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/astroturfing. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “astroturfing,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/astroturfing.

Source: astroturfing on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.