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

At the time people were talking about him as a good bet for chief of staff but Trump chose his campaign manager Susie Wiles instead.

From Salon

The inquiry has been considering the interview as part of a disinformation campaign from Russia - something Commander Murphy said had been seen previously, such as in the Litvinenko inquiry.

From BBC

There will be no winter break in this campaign either - meaning clubs will be playing pretty much solidly until the first World Cup qualifiers - and next Nations League games - take place in March.

From BBC

“The goal should be changing behavior,” says Jay Jordan, a longtime criminal justice reform activist who spent 7½ years in prison and advised the Proposition 6 campaign.

From Los Angeles Times

The Seattle entrepreneur, who also campaigned for Harris, said it grates on her to see people laughing in restaurants “as if nothing had happened.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• barnstorm
• lobby
• politick
• stump