Promulgate vs. Propagate — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 27, 2023
Promulgate means to formally declare or make known, often laws or decrees, while propagate involves spreading, multiplying, or promoting ideas, beliefs, or organisms.
Difference Between Promulgate and Propagate
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Promulgate refers to the official proclamation or announcement, often of laws or policies. Propagate means to spread or disseminate, whether it's information, beliefs, or living organisms.
Promulgate is often associated with authority and formal declaration. Propagate can involve spreading ideas, knowledge, or even species without formal authority.
The use of promulgate implies a sense of formality and official capacity. Propagate encompasses a broader range of spreading or multiplying, including biological reproduction.
Promulgate is typically top-down, coming from an official or authoritative source. Propagate involves distribution or dissemination, which can occur organically or systematically.
In essence, promulgate is about formal announcement and making something widely known. Propagate is about spreading, growing, and often involves a more grassroots or organic process.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To formally declare or announce
To spread, multiply, or disseminate
Context
Often legal or official
Biological, ideological, or informational
Authority
Associated with formal authority
Can occur without formal authority
Process
Top-down proclamation
Organic or systematic spreading
Implication
Formal announcement, often of laws
Spreading ideas, beliefs, or species
Compare with Definitions
Promulgate
To publish or declare formally.
The new law was promulgated in the national gazette.
Propagate
To reproduce or multiply, as in plants or animals.
Gardeners use cuttings to propagate new plants.
Promulgate
To officially announce or make known.
The government decided to promulgate the new policy immediately.
Propagate
To transmit or spread from person to person or place to place.
The rumor propagated quickly through the small town.
Promulgate
To put a law or decree into effect by official proclamation.
The president promulgated the emergency regulations.
Propagate
Breed specimens of (a plant or animal) by natural processes from the parent stock
Try propagating your own houseplants from cuttings
Promulgate
To make known to the public; popularize or advocate
"Franklin ... first promulgated the idea of free public libraries" (Elaine Wagner).
Propagate
Spread and promote (an idea, theory, etc.) widely
The French propagated the idea that the English were drunkards
Promulgate
To put (a law, for example) into effect by formal public announcement.
Propagate
(with reference to motion, light, sound, etc.) transmit or be transmitted in a particular direction or through a medium
A hydraulic fracture is generally expected to propagate in a vertical plane
Electromagnetic effects can be propagated at a finite velocity only through material substances
Promulgate
(transitive) To make known or public.
Propagate
To cause (an organism) to multiply or breed.
Promulgate
(transitive) To put into effect as a regulation.
Propagate
To breed (offspring).
Promulgate
To make known by open declaration, as laws, decrees, or tidings; to publish; as, to promulgate the secrets of a council.
Propagate
To transmit (characteristics) from one generation to another.
Promulgate
State or announce;
`I am not a Communist,'
The King will proclaim an amnesty
Propagate
To cause to extend to a broader area or larger number; spread
Missionaries who propagate the faith.
Promulgate
Put a law into effect by formal declaration
Propagate
To make widely known; publicize
Propagate a rumor.
Promulgate
To make widely known or disseminate officially.
The organization worked to promulgate health guidelines.
Propagate
(Physics) To cause (a wave, for example) to move in some direction or through a medium; transmit.
Promulgate
To teach or propagate a doctrine or practice.
The philosopher sought to promulgate his theories.
Propagate
To have offspring; multiply.
Propagate
To extend to a broader area or larger number; spread.
Propagate
(Physics) To move through a medium.
Propagate
To cause to continue or multiply by generation, or successive production.
Propagate
(transitive) To cause to spread to extend; to impel or continue forward in space.
To propagate sound or light
Propagate
(transitive) To spread from person to person; to extend the knowledge of; to originate and spread; to carry from place to place; to disseminate.
Propagate
To multiply; to increase.
Propagate
(transitive) To generate; to produce.
Propagate
To produce young; to be produced or multiplied by generation, or by new shoots or plants.
Propagate
To take effect on all relevant devices in a network.
It takes 24 hours for password changes to propagate throughout the system.
Propagate
To cause to take effect on all relevant devices in a network.
The server propagates the password file at midnight each day.
Propagate
To cause to continue or multiply by generation, or successive production; - applied to animals and plants; as, to propagate a breed of horses or sheep; to propagate a species of fruit tree.
Propagate
To cause to spread to extend; to impel or continue forward in space; as, to propagate sound or light.
Propagate
To spread from person to person; to extend the knowledge of; to originate and spread; to carry from place to place; to disseminate; as, to propagate a story or report; to propagate the Christian religion.
The infection was propagated insensibly.
Propagate
To multiply; to increase.
Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast,Which thou wilt propagate.
Propagate
To generate; to produce.
Motion propagated motion, and life threw off life.
Propagate
To have young or issue; to be produced or multiplied by generation, or by new shoots or plants; as, rabbits propagate rapidly.
No need that thouShould'st propagate, already infinite.
Propagate
Transmit from one generation to the next;
Propagate these characteristics
Propagate
Travel through the air;
Sound and light propagate in this medium
Propagate
Transmit;
Propagate sound or light through air
Propagate
Become distributed or widespread;
The infection spread
Optimism spread among the population
Propagate
Transmit or cause to broaden or spread;
This great civilization was propagated throughout the land
Propagate
Cause to become widely known;
Spread information
Circulate a rumor
Broadcast the news
Propagate
Cause to propagate, as by grafting or layering
Propagate
Multiply sexually or asexually
Propagate
To spread or disseminate.
She worked tirelessly to propagate her innovative ideas.
Propagate
To promote or publicize.
The activists used social media to propagate their message.
Propagate
To cause to continue or increase by sexual or asexual reproduction.
The farmers used selective breeding to propagate the species.
Common Curiosities
Is promulgate always top-down?
Typically, yes, as it involves an authoritative or official declaration.
Is promulgate used in religious contexts?
Yes, it can be used to describe the formal declaration of religious doctrines.
Does promulgate imply enforcement?
It often does, especially when related to laws or decrees.
Does propagate always involve biological reproduction?
No, it can also refer to spreading ideas, beliefs, or information.
Is promulgating a law the same as enforcing it?
Not exactly; promulgating is announcing or making it known, while enforcing is ensuring compliance.
Can a government propagate ideas?
Yes, governments can propagate ideas, often through campaigns or initiatives.
Can a law be propagated?
Laws are typically promulgated, but the ideas behind them can be propagated.
Can a theory be propagated?
Yes, theories can be spread or disseminated, thus propagated.
What's the main difference between promulgate and propagate?
Promulgate means to officially declare, while propagate means to spread or disseminate.
Can promulgate be used in a non-legal context?
Yes, it can also refer to making any official announcement or doctrine widely known.
Can an individual propagate their beliefs?
Yes, individuals can propagate beliefs, ideas, or information.
Does propagate imply growth?
Often, especially in biological or conceptual contexts.
Is propagate used in agriculture or horticulture?
Yes, it's commonly used to describe the reproduction or spreading of plants.
Does promulgate require a formal process?
Generally, it involves a formal or official process.
Can social media be used to propagate ideas?
Absolutely, social media is a common tool for propagating ideas or information.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
