campaign

[ kam-peyn ]

noun

1. the competition by rival political candidates and organizations for public office.
2. a systematic course of aggressive activities for some specific purpose:

   a sales campaign.

   Synonyms: offensive, push, effort, drive

3. Military.
   1. military operations for a specific objective.
   2. Obsolete. the military operations of an army in the field for one season.
4. a story in a role-playing game, spread out over multiple play sessions, that usually keeps the same plot, setting, or main characters:

   Last week we finished our campaign and I already miss it.

verb (used without object)

1. to serve in or go on a campaign:

   He planned to campaign for the candidate.

   My daughter has been campaigning for a later curfew for months.

verb (used with object)

1. to race (a horse, boat, car, etc.) in a number or series of competitions.

campaign

/ kæmˈpeɪn /

noun

1. a series of coordinated activities, such as public speaking and demonstrating, designed to achieve a social, political, or commercial goal

   a presidential campaign

   an advertising campaign

2. military a number of complementary operations aimed at achieving a single objective, usually constrained by time or geographic area

verb

1. introften foll byfor to conduct, serve in, or go on a campaign

Derived Forms

• camˈpaigner, noun

Other Words From

• cam·paign·er noun
• coun·ter·cam·paign noun
• pre·cam·paign noun adjective
• re·cam·paign verb
• un·cam·paign·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of campaign¹

First recorded in 1620–30; from French campagne, from Italian campagna, from Late Latin campānia “level district,” equivalent to Latin camp(us) “field” + -ān(us) -an + -ia -ia

Word History and Origins

Origin of campaign¹

C17: from French campagne open country, from Italian campagna, from Late Latin campānia, from Latin campus field

Example Sentences

Before serving as a Trump campaign aide, he was the spokesman for the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

From Salon

“I've met some of these aging and some ailing nuclear test veterans and I have just enormous respect for the campaign that they've run and share their frustrated anguish,” he said.

From BBC

Israel responded to the attack by launching a military campaign to eliminate Hamas, during which at least 44,000 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

From BBC

When a protester on the campaign trail threw an egg at him ahead of the 2001 general election, Mr. Prescott turned and punched him.

From New York Times

He led the campaign to have Smith go back to the drawing board, and the City Council is set to vote on a new design Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• barnstorm
• lobby
• politick
• stump