disinformation
/ˌdɪsˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃən/
CommonFalse information deliberately created and spread to deceive people or manipulate public opinion.
The deliberate intent is what separates disinformation from misinformation. State actors, political campaigns, and influence operations are the most common sources in serious usage.
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | this wasn't a mistake, it was a disinformation campaign. they knew exactly what they were doing | The false content was deliberate, not accidental. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | the accounts were bots running a coordinated disinformation operation | Fake automated accounts were part of a planned campaign to spread false content. | reddit, 2023 |
| 03 | disinformation works because it moves faster than the truth and sounds more dramatic | False narratives spread more effectively than corrections because they are engineered to appeal emotionally. | x, 2024 |
| 04 | at some point calling it misinformation is too generous. this is disinformation | The person believes the false claims were not accidental and should be labeled as intentional deception. | x, 2024 |
Use it when
- Describing false content deliberately created to deceive.
- Discussing coordinated campaigns to spread false narratives.
- Referring to state-sponsored or organized influence operations.
- Distinguishing intentional deception from accidental spreading of false claims.
Do not use it when
- Someone shared something false but genuinely believed it was true.Use “misinformation” instead.
- A news outlet got something wrong through error rather than intent.Use “misinformation” instead.
Disinformation vs misinformation
disinformation
Disinformation is false content created with intent to deceive. Someone made it up on purpose.
misinformation
Misinformation is false content spread without deceptive intent. The sharer believed it.
Origin and context
From the Russian 'dezinformatsiya', a KGB term formalized in the 1950s for state-run false information programs. Entered English-language political discourse during the Cold War and became a mainstream internet-era term after 2016.
- First seen
- 1950s
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/disinformation