disseminate

verb

dis·​sem·​i·​nate di-ˈse-mə-ˌnāt How to pronounce disseminate (audio)
disseminated; disseminating

transitive verb

1
: to spread abroad as though sowing seed
disseminate ideas
2
: to disperse throughout
disseminator noun

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Disseminating Information on Disseminate

While the object of the verb disseminate may be something tangible, such as an infectious agent, nowadays the thing most often disseminated, or "spread abroad as though sowing seed," is information. Where does this metaphorical verb come from? In Latin, the dis- prefix signifies separation or dispersal, while the -sem- element springs from semen "seed." The same Latin noun is found in a number of other English words with figurative meanings: seminary (which now is a training facility for priests, but initially was a place where seeds were raised to plants), seminal (meaning "containing the seeds of later development"), and yes, the word semen.

Examples of disseminate in a Sentence

He told me that as Commanding General [General David Petraeus] he believes he should not only direct battlefield action but also disseminate a few easy-to-grasp concepts about the war's prosecution, which subordinate officers can then interpret on their own. Steve Coll, New Yorker, 8 Sept. 2008
Jefferson helped found and back a friendly newspaper, the National Gazette, to help disseminate his views. Walter Kim, Time, 5 July 2004
In this case, the filmmakers did not prevent information from being disseminated. And they have no greater moral obligation than do the highly paid Tom Brokaw or Dan Rather to help a TV network keep down its costs. Randy Cohen, New York Times Magazine, 7 Oct. 2001
Although possession of virus software and source code is not illegal, many of the existing state and federal computer intrusion and unauthorized access laws already make it illegal to introduce a virus into someone's system intentionally. Robert Morris's conviction … shows how the existing laws might be used to punish those involved with disseminating viruses. Edward A. Cavazos et al., Cyberspace And The Law, 1994
The Internet allows us to disseminate information faster. The findings were widely disseminated.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The suspect was apprehended after photos were disseminated of the suspect by the NYPD. Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024 All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium. Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 20 Dec. 2024 The closure announcement, disseminated across its website, Instagram, and Facebook platforms, did not explicitly state the reasons behind the decision. Ana Gutierrez, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Dec. 2024 Brûlé is now disseminating his sophisticated take on the less-is-more credo in residential projects in New York, London, Madrid, Miami, Switzerland, and Canada. The Editors Of Ad, Architectural Digest, 4 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for disseminate 

Word History

Etymology

Latin disseminatus, past participle of disseminare, from dis- + seminare to sow, from semin-, semen seed — more at semen

First Known Use

1566, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of disseminate was in 1566

Dictionary Entries Near disseminate

Cite this Entry

“Disseminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disseminate. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

disseminate

verb
dis·​sem·​i·​nate dis-ˈem-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce disseminate (audio)
disseminated; disseminating
: to spread around as if sowing seed
disseminate ideas
dissemination noun
disseminator noun

More from Merriam-Webster on disseminate

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