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A2 noun #324 le plus courant 13 min de lecture

campaign

Top 324

At the A1 level, think of a campaign as a 'big plan' to help people or sell things. Imagine a school that wants to collect books for a new library. They don't just ask once; they put up posters, talk in assembly, and send letters home for two weeks. That whole plan is a campaign. It is when people work together for a few days or weeks to reach a goal. You might see a campaign to 'Save the Water' or a campaign to 'Buy This Toy.' It is more than just one action; it is a series of small steps to get a big result. For example, 'The school has a campaign to clean the park.' This means the students will work together many times to make the park beautiful.

For A2 learners, a campaign is defined as a series of planned activities intended to achieve a specific social, political, or commercial goal. It usually involves a group of people working together over a period of time. You often hear this word in the news about elections (political campaign) or on TV about products (advertising campaign). Key verbs to use are 'start,' 'run,' and 'join.' For example, 'She joined the campaign to stop smoking.' This means she is part of a group that is trying to help people quit. A campaign has a clear beginning and a clear end. It is different from a regular job because it is focused on one special goal.

At the B1 level, you should understand that a campaign is a coordinated course of action. It is not just a 'plan,' but a 'strategy.' In business, a marketing campaign uses different types of media (TV, internet, newspapers) to send the same message. In politics, a campaign involves fundraising, traveling, and debating. You can use more advanced verbs like 'launch,' 'conduct,' or 'spearhead.' You also start to see the word used for social awareness, like a 'public health campaign' to encourage vaccinations. It is important to notice that campaigns are often 'for' something (like 'for human rights') or 'against' something (like 'against plastic pollution').

At the B2 level, campaign takes on more nuance. It refers to a systematic and organized effort to influence opinion or achieve a result. You should be comfortable using collocations like 'grassroots campaign,' 'smear campaign,' or 'nationwide campaign.' A B2 speaker understands that a campaign requires a budget, a target audience, and a specific 'message.' You might discuss the effectiveness of a campaign: 'The campaign failed to gain traction because the message was too complex.' You also see the word in military history and gaming, referring to a series of operations. The focus here is on the strategic implementation and the psychological impact of the campaign on the public.

For C1 learners, campaign is a tool of rhetoric and power. It is an organized struggle for a specific cause. You analyze the 'mechanics' of a campaign—how it uses 'persuasion,' 'propaganda,' or 'advocacy' to shift the cultural or political landscape. You might use the word as a verb more often: 'He campaigned tirelessly for prison reform.' You understand metaphorical uses, such as a 'whisper campaign' (secretly spreading rumors) or a 'scorched earth campaign' (destroying everything so the enemy has nothing). At this level, you can discuss the ethical implications of certain campaigns, such as those that use 'disinformation' to influence voters.

At the C2 level, you possess a deep understanding of the etymological roots and the vast metaphorical reach of campaign. You recognize it as a fundamental unit of organized human endeavor. You can discuss the 'Gallipoli Campaign' with historical precision or critique a 'global branding campaign' with marketing expertise. You understand the word's relationship to 'the field' (from the Latin *campus*) and how this military metaphor has been internalized into every aspect of modern life—from 'campaign finance reform' to the 'single-player campaign' of a video game. You use the word with absolute precision, distinguishing it from 'movements,' 'crusades,' or 'initiatives' based on the level of institutional backing and strategic rigidity.

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

campaign en 30 secondes

A campaign is a planned series of actions to reach a specific goal over time.
It is commonly used in politics, business marketing, and social activism contexts.
Key verbs used with campaign include launch, run, conduct, and spearhead.
A campaign is larger than a single event; it is a strategic process.

The word campaign refers to a sophisticated, organized, and strategically planned series of actions designed to achieve a specific outcome. While it originated in a military context—referring to the time an army spent 'in the field' during a particular season—it has evolved to describe any large-scale effort in politics, business, or social activism. When you hear the word campaign, you should visualize a group of people working together over weeks, months, or even years, using various tools like advertisements, speeches, and events to persuade others or reach a milestone. It is not a single event; it is a journey with a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Political Context: In politics, a campaign is the period before an election where candidates travel, give speeches, and meet voters to win their support. It involves complex logistics, fundraising, and messaging strategies.

The senator launched a nationwide campaign to improve public education standards across the country.

In the commercial world, companies use marketing campaigns to introduce new products or improve their brand image. This might involve a mix of television commercials, social media posts, and billboard advertisements all centered around a single theme. For instance, a 'back-to-school' campaign by a clothing brand isn't just one ad; it is a coordinated effort across multiple platforms to convince parents and students to buy their clothes during the month of August. The success of such a campaign is measured by sales data and brand recognition surveys.

Social and Environmental Causes: Non-profit organizations often run awareness campaigns. These are designed to educate the public about issues like climate change, mental health, or animal rights. These campaigns often use emotional storytelling to spark change.

The local community started a campaign to save the historic theater from being demolished by developers.

Furthermore, the term is still used in military history to describe a series of battles or operations in a specific theater of war. For example, the 'Gallipoli Campaign' refers to a specific set of military maneuvers during World War I. In modern gaming, particularly in role-playing games (RPGs) or first-person shooters, a 'campaign mode' refers to the story-driven, single-player portion of the game where the player completes a series of missions to reach a conclusion. This usage mirrors the idea of a planned sequence of events leading to a final goal.

I finally finished the single-player campaign of the new space exploration game last night.

Workplace Usage: In a corporate setting, you might be asked to lead a recruitment campaign to find new talent or an internal campaign to improve employee morale and workplace safety.

The HR department is launching a wellness campaign to encourage staff to take more frequent breaks.

In summary, whether it is a massive advertising blitz by a tech giant, a local effort to clean up a park, or a politician's quest for office, a campaign is characterized by its organized nature, its duration over time, and its unwavering focus on a specific result. It is the bridge between a simple idea and a realized achievement through collective, sustained effort.

Using the word campaign correctly requires understanding the verbs and adjectives that typically accompany it. Because a campaign is a process, we use verbs that describe the start, the middle, and the end of that process. The most common verb used with campaign is 'launch.' When you launch a campaign, you are beginning the public phase of the effort. Other common verbs include 'run,' 'conduct,' 'lead,' and 'spearhead.' For example, 'She is spearheading the campaign for better healthcare,' suggests she is the primary leader of the movement.

Starting a Campaign: Common verbs: Launch, initiate, start, kick off, mount. Example: 'The charity will kick off its annual fundraising campaign next Monday.'

The marketing team decided to launch a social media campaign to target younger consumers.

Adjectives play a crucial role in describing the scale and nature of the campaign. A 'nationwide' campaign covers the whole country, while a 'grassroots' campaign starts from ordinary people rather than leaders. If a campaign is very intense and uses a lot of resources, it might be called an 'aggressive' or 'intensive' campaign. Conversely, a 'low-key' campaign is one that is quiet and doesn't seek massive public attention. You can also describe the success of the effort: a 'successful' campaign reached its goals, while an 'unsuccessful' or 'failed' campaign did not.

Describing the Campaign: Common adjectives: Political, advertising, military, successful, global, local, smear, awareness. Example: 'The smear campaign was designed to damage his reputation.'

The environmental group ran a highly successful campaign to ban single-use plastics in the city.

Grammatically, 'campaign' is a countable noun. This means you can have one campaign or many campaigns. It is often followed by the preposition 'for' or 'against' to show the purpose. For example, a 'campaign for human rights' or a 'campaign against bullying.' It can also be followed by 'to' plus a verb, such as a 'campaign to raise money.' Understanding these patterns helps you build more complex and natural-sounding sentences in English.

The students organized a campaign against the increase in tuition fees.

Managing a Campaign: Common verbs: Manage, coordinate, organize, fund, support. Example: 'He was hired to manage the digital marketing campaign for the new movie release.'

The entire project was funded by a public campaign that raised over a million dollars.

Finally, consider the 'campaign trail.' This is a common phrase used to describe the physical journey and series of events a politician undergoes during an election. 'The president is back on the campaign trail today' means they are traveling and giving speeches again. By mastering these collocations and structures, you can use 'campaign' with the precision of a native speaker.

The word campaign is ubiquitous in modern life, appearing in news broadcasts, corporate boardrooms, and digital spaces. One of the most common places you will encounter it is in political journalism. During election cycles, news anchors and political analysts spend hours discussing 'campaign strategy,' 'campaign finance,' and 'campaign promises.' In this context, the word carries a weight of public importance and democratic process. You will hear it on television networks like CNN or the BBC, and read it in newspapers like The New York Times or The Guardian whenever a vote is approaching.

In the Business World: If you work in marketing, advertising, or PR, 'campaign' is a daily vocabulary word. You will hear about 'email campaigns,' 'PPC (Pay-Per-Click) campaigns,' and 'influencer campaigns.' It is the standard unit of work for these professionals.

Our latest campaign saw a 20% increase in website traffic over the last quarter.

Social media is another major arena for campaigns. Platforms like Twitter (X), Instagram, and TikTok are filled with 'hashtag campaigns.' These are coordinated efforts to make a specific topic trend or to raise awareness for a cause. For example, the #IceBucketChallenge was a viral campaign for ALS awareness. When you see a specific phrase being used by thousands of people simultaneously to promote a message, you are witnessing a digital campaign in action. Influencers also use the word when they partner with brands for a 'sponsored campaign.'

In Education and Non-Profits: Schools and universities often run 'capital campaigns' to raise money for new buildings. Charities run 'seasonal campaigns' like the Salvation Army's Red Kettle campaign during Christmas.

The university's campaign for the new library has already reached its halfway goal.

You will also hear the word in historical documentaries. Historians speak of 'Napoleon's Russian campaign' or the 'Civil Rights campaign' of the 1960s. In these contexts, the word helps to group many individual events into one cohesive narrative. It allows us to talk about a long period of struggle or effort as a single entity. Whether it's a battle on a field or a battle for public opinion, the word 'campaign' provides the structure for the story.

The campaign for women's suffrage lasted for decades before the right to vote was finally granted.

Everyday Conversations: Even in casual talk, someone might say, 'I'm on a campaign to get my house organized,' using the word metaphorically to mean they are very focused and organized about a personal goal.

My mom is on a campaign to make us all eat more vegetables this year.

In conclusion, 'campaign' is a versatile word that bridges the gap between the serious worlds of war and politics and the creative worlds of marketing and gaming. Its presence in the media and daily life highlights our human tendency to organize our efforts into meaningful, goal-oriented sequences.

One of the most frequent mistakes English learners make with the word campaign is confusing it with the word 'advertisement.' While an advertisement (or 'ad') is a single piece of media—like one picture or one video—a campaign is the *entire strategy* that includes many ads. You don't 'watch a campaign' on TV; you watch an ad that is *part of* a campaign. Think of the campaign as the book and the advertisement as a single chapter. Using 'campaign' when you mean a single ad can make your English sound imprecise.

Collocation Errors: Many students say 'make a campaign' or 'do a campaign.' While understandable, these are not natural collocations. Native speakers almost always use 'run,' 'launch,' or 'conduct.'

Incorrect: We are doing a campaign for the environment.
Correct: We are running a campaign for the environment.

Another common error is related to the word's countability. 'Campaign' is a countable noun, but some learners treat it as uncountable like 'work' or 'information.' You must use articles (a/the) or pluralize it. You cannot say 'He has much campaign to do.' Instead, say 'He has a lot of campaigning to do' (using the gerund) or 'He has a big campaign to run.' Also, be careful with the spelling. The 'g' is silent, which often leads to spelling mistakes like 'campain' or 'campane.' Always remember the 'g' before the 'n'.

Confusing Campaign with Project: A project is a general term for any task. A campaign is specifically about persuasion or achieving a public goal. Building a house is a project, but trying to convince the city to build more houses is a campaign.

I'm working on a project to fix the roof. (Correct)
I'm working on a campaign to fix the roof. (Only correct if you are trying to persuade others to help or pay for it.)

Lastly, learners sometimes struggle with the prepositions. Remember: you campaign *for* something you want (a campaign for peace) and *against* something you don't want (a campaign against pollution). You can also have a campaign *to do* something (a campaign to save the whales). Using 'of' incorrectly is a common slip, such as 'a campaign of save the whales' instead of 'to save.'

The campaign for better wages was supported by thousands of workers.

Pronunciation Pitfall: Ensure the stress is on the second syllable: kam-PAYN. Stressing the first syllable (KAM-payn) is a common mistake that can make the word hard to recognize.

The campaign (kam-PAYN) was very expensive.

By avoiding these common pitfalls—confusing it with 'ad,' using the wrong verbs, or messing up the prepositions—you will be able to use 'campaign' with much greater confidence and accuracy in both spoken and written English.

While campaign is a very specific word, there are several synonyms and related terms that you can use depending on the context. Understanding the nuances between these words will help you choose the most appropriate one for your situation. For instance, 'drive' is often used for fundraising or collecting items. You might hear about a 'blood drive' or a 'food drive.' These are essentially short, focused campaigns. 'Movement' is used for much larger, often historical social changes, like the 'Civil Rights Movement.' A movement is usually bigger and less centrally organized than a single campaign.

Campaign vs. Drive: A 'drive' is usually shorter and has a very specific, tangible goal (like collecting 100 coats). A 'campaign' can be much broader and involve changing people's minds or laws.

The school is holding a food drive to help local families during the holidays.

'Initiative' is another great alternative, especially in business or government. An initiative is a new plan or process to achieve something or solve a problem. It sounds a bit more formal and 'official' than campaign. For example, 'The government's new green energy initiative' sounds more like a policy change, whereas 'The government's green energy campaign' sounds more like they are trying to persuade the public to use less power. 'Crusade' is a very strong word, often used when someone is fighting for something they believe is morally right with great passion. It can sometimes sound a bit old-fashioned or overly intense.

Campaign vs. Movement: A 'movement' is a long-term, widespread social shift. A 'campaign' is a specific, organized effort within that movement. For example, the environmental movement has many different campaigns to save specific forests.

The movement for climate justice has inspired millions of young people.

In the world of advertising, you might hear the word 'blitz.' A 'media blitz' is a very short, very intense campaign where ads appear everywhere at once. This is common for big movie releases or new tech products. Another related term is 'promotion.' While a campaign is the strategy, a promotion is often the specific offer being made, like 'Buy one, get one free.' If you are talking about a military context, 'offensive' is a common synonym for a campaign that involves attacking the enemy.

The company launched a marketing blitz just before the holiday season.

Comparison Table

Campaign: Organized, strategic, goal-oriented.
Drive: Short-term, focused on collecting/fundraising.
Initiative: Formal, policy-oriented, new plan.
Movement: Large-scale, social, long-term.

The initiative to reduce plastic waste in the ocean is gaining international support.

By learning these alternatives, you can avoid repeating the word 'campaign' too many times in a piece of writing and express your ideas with more variety and precision. Whether you are describing a small 'drive' at school or a massive 'movement' for change, you now have the vocabulary to do so effectively.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

Neutre

Informel

Child friendly

Argot

Le savais-tu ?

The word 'campus' (like a university campus) and 'champagne' (the region in France) share the same root as 'campaign' because they all relate to open fields.

Guide de prononciation

UK /kæmˈpeɪn/

US /kæmˈpeɪn/

Second syllable: kam-PAYN

Rime avec

Explain Complain Maintain Contain Obtain Remain Restrain Sustain

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing the 'g' (it should be silent).
Stressing the first syllable (KAM-payn).
Confusing the vowel sound with 'champagne' (sham-PAYN).
Pronouncing the 'ai' as 'eye'.
Shortening the word to 'camp'.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 3/5

Common in news and business texts.

Écriture 4/5

Requires knowledge of specific collocations like 'launch' or 'run'.

Expression orale 3/5

Easy to use once the meaning is understood.

Écoute 3/5

Watch out for the silent 'g' and stress.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

plan goal group work time

Apprends ensuite

strategy advocacy propaganda rhetoric logistics

Avancé

grassroots lobbying canvassing incumbent constituency

Grammaire à connaître

Countable Nouns

We are running *a* campaign. (Not: We are running campaign.)

Prepositions with Campaign

A campaign *for* peace / A campaign *against* war.

Gerund as Subject

Campaigning is hard work for politicians.

Passive Voice

The campaign *was launched* by the CEO.

Infinitive of Purpose

They started a campaign *to save* the park.

Exemples par niveau

The school has a campaign to help poor children.

La escuela tiene una campaña para ayudar a los niños pobres.

Use 'a' before campaign because it is a countable noun.

I saw a campaign for a new soda on TV.

Vi una campaña de un nuevo refresco en la televisión.

'For' shows the product being promoted.

We started a campaign to clean our street.

Empezamos una campaña para limpiar nuestra calle.

'Started' is a simple verb for A1.

Is this a campaign for the election?

¿Es esta una campaña para la elección?

Question form using 'is this'.

They have a big campaign to save the trees.

Tienen una gran campaña para salvar los árboles.

Adjective 'big' describes the scale.

The campaign for the new movie is everywhere.

La campaña de la nueva película está en todas partes.

'Everywhere' is a common A1 adverb.

She wants to join the campaign for peace.

Ella quiere unirse a la campaña por la paz.

'Join' is the correct verb for becoming a member.

Our campaign raised ten dollars today.

Nuestra campaña recaudó diez dólares hoy.

'Raised' is used for collecting money.

The company launched a new advertising campaign last month.

La empresa lanzó una nueva campaña publicitaria el mes pasado.

'Launched' is a more formal verb than 'started'.

He is running a campaign to become the class president.

Él está dirigiendo una campaña para ser el presidente de la clase.

'Running' is the standard verb for managing a campaign.

The government's campaign against smoking is working.

La campaña del gobierno contra el tabaquismo está funcionando.

'Against' indicates the thing they want to stop.

We need more volunteers for our fundraising campaign.

Necesitamos más voluntarios para nuestra campaña de recaudación de fondos.

'Fundraising' acts as an adjective here.

The campaign aims to raise awareness about plastic waste.

La campaña tiene como objetivo concienciar sobre los residuos plásticos.

'Aims to' explains the purpose.

I finished the first mission of the game's campaign.

Terminé la primera misión de la campaña del juego.

Refers to the story mode in gaming.

The local campaign to save the library was successful.

La campaña local para salvar la biblioteca tuvo éxito.

'Successful' is the adjective form of success.

They are planning a campaign for the summer holidays.

Están planeando una campaña para las vacaciones de verano.

Present continuous for a future plan.

The charity spearheads a global campaign to provide clean water.

La organización benéfica encabeza una campaña mundial para proporcionar agua limpia.

'Spearheads' means to lead or initiate.

A negative campaign can often backfire on the candidate.

Una campaña negativa a menudo puede ser contraproducente para el candidato.

'Backfire' means to have the opposite effect intended.

The marketing campaign was designed to target teenagers.

La campaña de marketing fue diseñada para dirigirse a los adolescentes.

Passive voice: 'was designed to'.

She has been campaigning for animal rights for over a decade.

Ella ha estado haciendo campaña por los derechos de los animales durante más de una década.

Used here as a verb in the present perfect continuous.

The anti-bullying campaign has reached thousands of schools.

La campaña contra el acoso escolar ha llegado a miles de escuelas.

'Anti-' prefix means against.

The election campaign is entering its final and most intense week.

La campaña electoral está entrando en su semana final y más intensa.

'Entering' suggests a new phase.

They organized a letter-writing campaign to the local council.

Organizaron una campaña de envío de cartas al ayuntamiento local.

Compound noun: 'letter-writing campaign'.

The campaign's success depends on public participation.

El éxito de la campaña depende de la participación del público.

'Depends on' is a common phrasal verb.

The company’s latest campaign features several high-profile celebrities.

La última campaña de la empresa cuenta con varias celebridades de alto nivel.

'Features' means to include as a main part.

A grassroots campaign often relies on social media to spread its message.

Una campaña de base a menudo depende de las redes sociales para difundir su mensaje.

'Grassroots' refers to ordinary people in a community.

The military campaign was criticized for its lack of clear objectives.

La campaña militar fue criticada por su falta de objetivos claros.

'Objectives' is a formal word for goals.

The candidate's campaign manager resigned after the scandal.

El director de campaña del candidato dimitió tras el escándalo.

'Campaign manager' is a specific job title.

We are launching a multi-channel campaign across TV, print, and digital.

Estamos lanzando una campaña multicanal en televisión, prensa y digital.

'Multi-channel' refers to using many platforms.

The campaign for the new tax law faced significant opposition.

La campaña a favor de la nueva ley fiscal se enfrentó a una oposición significativa.

'Significant opposition' is a formal B2 collocation.

The health campaign successfully lowered the rate of heart disease.

La campaña de salud logró reducir la tasa de enfermedades cardíacas.

Adverb 'successfully' modifies the verb 'lowered'.

He spent the entire afternoon on the campaign trail meeting voters.

Pasó toda la tarde en la campaña electoral conociendo a los votantes.

'On the campaign trail' is an idiomatic expression.

The opposition launched a smear campaign to discredit the prime minister.

La oposición lanzó una campaña de desprestigio para desacreditar al primer ministro.

'Smear campaign' refers to damaging someone's reputation.

The campaign's rhetoric was designed to appeal to nationalist sentiments.

La retórica de la campaña fue diseñada para apelar a los sentimientos nacionalistas.

'Rhetoric' refers to the art of persuasive speaking or writing.

Despite the massive budget, the campaign failed to shift public opinion.

A pesar del presupuesto masivo, la campaña no logró cambiar la opinión pública.

'Shift public opinion' is a sophisticated phrase.

The advocacy group is conducting a campaign for legislative reform.

El grupo de defensa está llevando a cabo una campaña para la reforma legislativa.

'Legislative reform' refers to changing laws.

The campaign was characterized by a series of strategic blunders.

La campaña se caracterizó por una serie de errores estratégicos.

'Blunders' are careless or stupid mistakes.

Environmentalists are campaigning for a total ban on fossil fuel subsidies.

Los ecologistas están haciendo campaña por la prohibición total de los subsidios a los combustibles fósiles.

Verb 'campaigning' followed by 'for'.

The digital campaign utilized sophisticated algorithms to target swing voters.

La campaña digital utilizó algoritmos sofisticados para dirigirse a los votantes indecisos.

'Swing voters' are those who haven't decided who to vote for.

The campaign served as a catalyst for a broader social movement.

La campaña sirvió como catalizador para un movimiento social más amplio.

'Catalyst' is something that causes a change or event.

The campaign’s success was predicated on an unprecedented level of data analytics.

El éxito de la campaña se basó en un nivel sin precedentes de análisis de datos.

'Predicated on' means based on.

The military campaign culminated in the decisive battle of the northern front.

La campaña militar culminó en la batalla decisiva del frente norte.

'Culminated in' means reached a climax or point of highest development.

The whisper campaign against the CEO led to a precipitous drop in stock value.

La campaña de rumores contra el CEO provocó una caída estrepitosa del valor de las acciones.

'Precipitous' means dangerously high or steep.

The campaign was an exercise in political brinkmanship and public manipulation.

La campaña fue un ejercicio de tácticas políticas arriesgadas y manipulación pública.

'Brinkmanship' is the art of pushing a dangerous situation to the limit.

The NGO’s campaign was a masterclass in emotional storytelling and brand positioning.

La campaña de la ONG fue una clase magistral de narrativa emocional y posicionamiento de marca.

'Masterclass' suggests a perfect example of something.

The campaign’s messaging was meticulously crafted to exploit existing social fissures.

El mensaje de la campaña fue meticulosamente diseñado para explotar las fisuras sociales existentes.

'Fissures' refers to splits or cracks in a group or society.

The candidate’s campaign trail was a grueling odyssey through the heartland.

La campaña del candidato fue una odisea agotadora a través del corazón del país.

'Odyssey' refers to a long and eventful journey.

The campaign for judicial independence is a cornerstone of the democratic struggle.

La campaña por la independencia judicial es una piedra angular de la lucha democrática.

'Cornerstone' means a vital or fundamental part.

Synonymes

movement operation drive initiative strategy effort

Antonymes

inactivity stagnation idleness

Collocations courantes

launch a campaign

run a campaign

advertising campaign

political campaign

smear campaign

awareness campaign

grassroots campaign

campaign manager

campaign trail

fundraising campaign

Phrases Courantes

on the campaign trail

campaign for

campaign against

whisper campaign

marketing campaign

military campaign

campaign promise

campaign finance

single-player campaign

successful campaign

Souvent confondu avec

campaign vs Advertisement

An ad is one part of a campaign. A campaign is the whole plan.

campaign vs Project

A project is any task. A campaign is specifically for persuasion or public goals.

campaign vs Movement

A movement is larger and less organized than a specific campaign.

Expressions idiomatiques

"on the campaign trail"

The series of events and travels a politician does before an election.

Reporters followed him on the campaign trail.

Journalistic

"whisper campaign"

A method of spreading rumors or misinformation secretly.

The rival company started a whisper campaign.

Political/Business

"scorched earth campaign"

A strategy of destroying everything that might be useful to the enemy.

The army used a scorched earth campaign as they retreated.

Military/Metaphorical

"smear campaign"

A deliberate plan to damage someone's reputation by spreading lies.

The celebrity sued the magazine for a smear campaign.

Legal/Media

"grassroots campaign"

A movement that starts with ordinary people in a community.

The park was saved by a grassroots campaign.

Social/Political

"negative campaigning"

Focusing on attacking the opponent rather than promoting oneself.

Voters are tired of negative campaigning.

Political

"campaign of terror"

A series of violent acts intended to frighten people.

The dictator launched a campaign of terror against his critics.

Historical/Political

"campaign for the hearts and minds"

Trying to win the emotional and intellectual support of people.

The government is in a campaign for the hearts and minds of the youth.

Political/Social

"one-man campaign"

An effort led by a single person without much help.

He ran a one-man campaign to fix the local bridge.

Informal

"advertising blitz"

A very intense and short advertising campaign.

The movie studio started an advertising blitz a week before the premiere.

Business

Facile à confondre

campaign vs Champagne

Similar sound.

Champagne is a sparkling wine; campaign is an organized effort.

We drank champagne to celebrate the successful campaign.

campaign vs Company

Starts with 'com/cam'.

A company is a business; a campaign is an activity.

The company launched a new campaign.

campaign vs Champion

Similar spelling.

A champion is a winner; a campaign is a process.

The champion supported the campaign for better sports facilities.

campaign vs Campaigner

Related word.

A campaigner is the person who does the campaign.

She is a famous campaigner for human rights.

campaign vs Compass

Similar spelling.

A compass is a tool for direction; a campaign is a plan.

He used a compass during the military campaign.

Structures de phrases

I like the [adjective] campaign.

I like the new campaign.

They started a campaign to [verb].

They started a campaign to help kids.

The campaign was designed to [verb].

The campaign was designed to increase sales.

He is running a [adjective] campaign for [noun].

He is running a nationwide campaign for president.

The campaign served as a catalyst for [noun].

The campaign served as a catalyst for social change.

The success was predicated on the campaign's [noun].

The success was predicated on the campaign's digital strategy.

Mixed

Despite the [noun], the campaign [verb].

Despite the small budget, the campaign succeeded.

Mixed

Throughout the campaign, [sentence].

Throughout the campaign, the team worked very hard.

Famille de mots

Noms

Verbes

Adjectifs

Apparenté

Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Very common in news, business, and social media.

Erreurs courantes

I saw a campaign on TV. → I saw an advertisement that was part of a campaign.
A campaign is the whole plan, not just one ad.
He is doing a campaign. → He is running a campaign.
'Run' is the natural verb for managing a campaign.
The campain was good. → The campaign was good.
Don't forget the silent 'g'.
She is on a campaign of save the trees. → She is on a campaign to save the trees.
Use 'to' + verb for the purpose of the campaign.
They have much campaign. → They have a big campaign.
'Campaign' is countable, so use 'a' and an adjective.

Astuces

Use Strong Verbs

Instead of 'starting' a campaign, try using 'launching' or 'spearheading' to sound more professional.

The Silent G

Always remember the 'g' before the 'n'. It is silent, but it must be there in writing.

Countable Noun

Always use 'a' or 'the' with campaign. 'We started a campaign' is correct.

Stress the End

Put the emphasis on the second part of the word: kam-PAYN.

Social Causes

When talking about helping people, use 'awareness campaign' or 'fundraising campaign'.

Story Mode

In games, 'campaign' usually means the single-player story mode.

Marketing

In business, a campaign is a series of ads with one specific message.

Elections

Political campaigns are the most common use of the word in the news.

For and Against

Use 'for' for things you want and 'against' for things you want to stop.

Adjectives

Use adjectives like 'nationwide', 'local', or 'global' to describe the size of the campaign.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'CAMP' + 'AIGN' (Aim). You set up a CAMP to AIM for a goal. A campaign is a long-term plan to reach that aim.

Association visuelle

Imagine a long road with many small flags. Each flag is a step, and the end of the road is the goal. That whole road is the campaign.

Word Web

Politics Marketing Goal Strategy Ads Elections Cause Awareness

Défi

Try to write three sentences using 'campaign' in three different contexts: politics, business, and a personal goal.

Origine du mot

Derived from the French word 'campagne', which comes from the Italian 'campagna'. This ultimately traces back to the Latin 'campania', meaning 'level country' or 'open field'.

Sens originel : Originally, it referred to the time an army spent 'in the field' (outside of their winter quarters) during a specific season of fighting.

Indo-European (Latin -> Italian -> French -> English)

Contexte culturel

Be careful when using 'smear campaign' as it is a very negative accusation.

Campaigns are often seen as a sign of a healthy democracy or a competitive market.

The Obama 'Hope' campaign The 'Got Milk?' advertising campaign The 'Real Beauty' campaign by Dove

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Politics

election campaign
campaign trail
campaign manager
run for office

Business

marketing campaign
advertising campaign
brand awareness
target audience

Social Causes

awareness campaign
fundraising campaign
charity drive
public health campaign

Military

military campaign
strategic operation
theater of war
offensive

Gaming

single-player campaign
story mode
campaign mission
complete the campaign

Amorces de conversation

"Have you seen the new advertising campaign for the latest iPhone?"

"What do you think makes a political campaign successful?"

"If you could start a campaign for any cause, what would it be?"

"Do you prefer the single-player campaign or multiplayer in video games?"

"Have you ever volunteered for a fundraising campaign?"

Sujets d'écriture

Describe a time you worked on a campaign or a big project with a group of people.

Analyze an advertising campaign that you find very effective. Why does it work?

Write about a social campaign that changed your mind about an important issue.

If you were a campaign manager for a politician, what would be your main strategy?

Discuss the pros and cons of social media hashtag campaigns.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, but it usually involves reaching out to many people. For example, a person can run a 'one-man campaign' to change a local law.

No, it can also be a verb. You can say 'He campaigned for the new law.' However, the noun form is more common.

It is a negative campaign where one person or group tries to destroy another person's reputation by spreading lies or rumors.

Yes, sometimes people talk about a 'championship campaign' to describe a team's journey through a whole season.

It refers to the time when a politician is traveling and meeting voters before an election.

It can last from a few days (like a short food drive) to many years (like the campaign for civil rights).

It is better to say 'run a campaign' or 'launch a campaign.' 'Do' is too simple and less natural.

It is a campaign that starts with regular people at a local level, rather than being started by big organizations or leaders.

Yes, you do not pronounce the 'g'. It sounds like 'kam-pain'.

Yes, if a campaign does not reach its goal, it is called an unsuccessful or failed campaign.