Definitions For Astroturfing

Noun

ASTROTURFING (uncountable) (originally, US politics, now, social media, marketing) The disguising of an orchestrated campaign as a "grass roots, grass-roots" event, i.e., a spontaneous upwelling of public opinion.

Synonyms

front organization

Related terms

astroturf astroturfer

Translations

Chinese: : Mandarin: Finnish: astroturffaus, mielipide, mielipiteiden ostaminen, tekonurmetus German: vortäuschen einer basisbewegung, n, tarnung einer kampagne als volksbewegung, f Portuguese: astroturfing, m

Etymology

From AstroTurf, , a synthetic substitute for grass, a play on grass roots, as in “fake grass roots”. Attributed to U.S. Senator in an unidentified 1985 public statement: "[A] fellow from Texas can tell the difference between grassroots and Astroturf."