propaganda of the deed

[ˌpɹɒ.pəˈɡæ̝ˑn.də əʋ ˌðə ˈdiːd]

noun

A politically motivated act of violence, meant to broadcast an ideological message and serve as catalyst to ignite a spirit of socialist revolution among the proletariat against perceived oppressors.

OriginFrench propagande par le fait →
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Meanings

nounpropaganda of the deed (uncountable)

alternative propaganda by the deed

  1. historicaluncountablegovernmentA politically motivated act of violence, meant to broadcast an ideological message and serve as catalyst to ignite a spirit of socialist revolution among the proletariat against perceived oppressors.
  2. broadlyhistoricaluncountablegovernmentThe theoretical principle of using acts of violence in the struggle to achieve radical left-wing political goals.

Origin

  1. Frenchpropagande par le fait
  2. Englishpropaganda of the deed

Calque of French propagande par le fait rendered into idiomatic English, from propagande (“propaganda”) and fait (“deed, act, action”); a phrasal usage originating among 19th century insurrectionary anarchist communists.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan propaganda pel fet
  • propaganda pel feta provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
Chinese Mandarin 行動宣傳 /行动宣传
  • 行動宣傳 /行动宣传a provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
Esperanto propagando per agado
  • propagando per agadoa provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
French propagande par le fait
  • propagande par le faita provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
German Propaganda der Tat
  • Propaganda der Tata provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
Greek έμπρακτη προπαγάνδα
  • έμπρακτη προπαγάνδα (émprakti propagánda)a provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
Italian propaganda col fatto, propaganda del fatto
  • propaganda col fattoa provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
  • propaganda del fattoa provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
Japanese 行為によるプロパガンダ
  • 行為によるプロパガンダ (kōi niyoru puropaganda)a provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
Persian تبلیغ اعمال
  • تبلیغ اعمالa provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
Polish propaganda czynem
  • propaganda czynema provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
Portuguese propaganda pela ação, propaganda pelo ato
  • propaganda pela açãoa provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
  • propaganda pelo atoa provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
  • propaganda pelo feitoa provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
Russian пропага́нда де́лом, пропага́нда посту́пком
  • пропага́нда де́лом (propagánda délom)a provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
  • пропага́нда посту́пком (propagánda postúpkom)a provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
Spanish propaganda por el acto, propaganda por el hecho
  • propaganda por el actoa provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
  • propaganda por el hechoa provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
Cite this entry
APA

propaganda of the deed. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/propaganda%20of%20the%20deed

MLA

“propaganda of the deed.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/propaganda%20of%20the%20deed. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “propaganda of the deed,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/propaganda%20of%20the%20deed.

Source: propaganda of the deed on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.