psyop

noun

psy·​op ˈsī-ˌäp 

variants or PSYOP or less commonly psy-op or PsyOp

plural psyops or PSYOPs also psy-ops or PsyOps

1

: a military operation usually aimed at influencing the enemy's state of mind through noncombative means (such as distribution of leaflets)

Psyops use a wide array of communications media—including radio and TV broadcasts, loudspeakers, newspapers, magazines, leaflets and even comic books—to help win or prevent wars.

—Harold Kennedy

A PSYOP is a form of military operation that targets the emotional and mental state of the enemy.

—Mitzi Perdue

"My job in psy-ops is to play with people's heads, to get the enemy to behave the way we want them to behave," says Lt. Colonel Michael Holmes …

—Michael Hastings

a CIA psyops/psyop campaign

2

: someone or something used by the government to influence the population's opinions and attitudes

… some hard-line conservatives have raised conspiracy theories … that [singer-songwriter Taylor] Swift is a government psyop planted by the Pentagon to aid Democrats …

—Rachel Schilke

Word History

Etymology

psychological operation

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for psyop

• atop
• backdrop
• backstop
• bebop
• blacktop
• bookshop
• clatsop
• desktop
• eavesdrop
• estop
• hardtop
• hilltop