Explanation at your level:
A campaign is a plan to do something big. You work with friends to reach a goal. For example, a clean-up campaign helps keep the park nice. It takes time and effort.
A campaign is a series of events or activities. People work together to change something. For example, a company might start an advertising campaign to sell a new phone. It is a very organized way to share an idea.
When you have a specific goal, like winning an election or raising money for charity, you might start a campaign. It involves planning, teamwork, and a set amount of time. You often hear about political campaigns on the news.
A campaign is a strategic effort to achieve a specific outcome. It implies a degree of formality and coordination. Whether it is a marketing campaign or a social justice initiative, it requires a sustained, multi-faceted approach to influence public opinion or behavior.
The term campaign denotes a concerted, sustained effort intended to produce a specific social, political, or commercial effect. It often suggests a broader strategy involving various media channels or community engagement. It is a term frequently used in professional discourse to describe the lifecycle of a project aimed at influencing stakeholders.
Etymologically rooted in the military theater of operations, 'campaign' has evolved to signify any structured, long-term endeavor. In a C2 context, it implies an understanding of the nuance between a mere 'project' and a 'campaign,' the latter requiring a narrative arc, resource allocation, and a clear objective. It is used to describe everything from global health initiatives to sophisticated political maneuvering.
Word in 30 Seconds
- A campaign is a series of organized actions.
- It has a specific goal.
- It involves teamwork.
- It lasts for a period of time.
Think of a campaign as a big, organized mission. It is not just one action, but a whole series of steps planned out to reach a specific goal.
You will often see this word used in politics, like when someone is running for office, or in marketing, where a company tries to sell a new product. Because it involves many people working together, it requires a lot of coordination and time.
The word campaign has a surprisingly military history! It comes from the French word campagne, which originally meant 'open country' or 'field.'
In the 17th century, it specifically referred to the period during which an army stayed in the field to fight. Over time, the meaning expanded from just 'fighting in a field' to any organized, sustained effort to achieve a goal.
You use campaign when talking about sustained, goal-oriented activities. It is very common in professional and news settings.
Common phrases include 'launch a campaign' or 'run a campaign.' It sounds more formal than just saying 'a project' or 'a plan' because it implies a larger scale and more public visibility.
While 'campaign' itself isn't always the core of an idiom, it is used in phrases like 'smear campaign', which means an attempt to damage someone's reputation. Another is 'grassroots campaign', referring to efforts starting from the general public rather than leaders.
The noun campaign is countable, so you can have 'one campaign' or 'many campaigns.' The stress is on the second syllable: cam-PAIGN.
In British and American English, the pronunciation is quite similar, though the 'a' sound can vary slightly. It rhymes with words like 'complain' or 'terrain.'
Fun Fact
It used to refer to the season when armies were out in the field fighting.
Pronunciation Guide
Starts with a short 'a', ends with a long 'a' sound.
Similar to UK, clear stress on the second syllable.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'g' hard
- Misplacing the stress on the first syllable
- Saying 'camp-a-in'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
easy
easy
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Noun usage
A campaign is a noun.
Prepositions
Campaign for something.
Articles
The campaign.
Examples by Level
We started a clean-up campaign.
We began a project to clean.
Past tense verb.
The campaign is good.
The project is good.
Simple subject.
I like this campaign.
I enjoy this effort.
Subject-verb.
They have a campaign.
They own a project.
Have + noun.
The campaign starts today.
The project begins now.
Present simple.
We need a campaign.
We require a project.
Need + noun.
This is a big campaign.
This is a large effort.
Adjective + noun.
Join the campaign!
Help with the project!
Imperative.
The group launched a new campaign.
She works for a political campaign.
Our school has a recycling campaign.
The marketing campaign was very successful.
They are planning a campaign for peace.
I saw a campaign poster in the street.
The campaign lasts for three months.
Many people support the campaign.
The candidate is running a strong campaign.
We need to raise awareness through a social campaign.
The company's advertising campaign reached millions.
He dedicated his life to the anti-smoking campaign.
The campaign failed because of poor planning.
They are organizing a fundraising campaign for the hospital.
The campaign focuses on environmental protection.
I volunteered for the local election campaign.
The organization launched a global campaign to end hunger.
A smear campaign was used to ruin his reputation.
They conducted a highly effective digital marketing campaign.
The campaign gained momentum after the celebrity endorsement.
She spearheaded the campaign for educational reform.
The military campaign was short but decisive.
The charity's campaign relies on public donations.
We need a more aggressive campaign to attract customers.
The grassroots campaign successfully pressured the government to change the policy.
His political campaign was characterized by sophisticated data analytics.
The brand's latest campaign challenges traditional beauty standards.
They orchestrated a coordinated campaign across multiple social media platforms.
The campaign for human rights has spanned several decades.
Despite the smear campaign, she remained popular with voters.
The company's green campaign was accused of being mere window dressing.
The campaign aims to shift the narrative regarding climate change.
The political candidate's campaign was a masterclass in grassroots mobilization.
The NGO's campaign against human trafficking has had a profound global impact.
The author's campaign to promote literacy has reached the most remote regions.
The campaign's success was contingent upon the synergy between local and national efforts.
He was a veteran of many a political campaign, having seen it all before.
The campaign’s rhetoric was designed to evoke strong emotional responses.
The clandestine campaign was conducted entirely in the shadows.
They launched a multi-faceted campaign to revitalize the city's downtown core.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"smear campaign"
A plan to damage someone's reputation.
The news spread a smear campaign against the actor.
neutral"grassroots campaign"
A campaign starting with ordinary people.
The candidate's grassroots campaign won the election.
neutral"on the campaign trail"
Traveling to give speeches for an election.
The candidate has been on the campaign trail for months.
neutral"a war of words"
A series of arguments or criticisms.
The two candidates are in a war of words.
neutral"beat the drum"
To campaign strongly for something.
He is beating the drum for tax reform.
casual"rally the troops"
To gather people for a goal.
We need to rally the troops for the project.
casualEasily Confused
Similar start
Company is a business, campaign is an effort.
The company ran a campaign.
Root word
Camp is a place, campaign is an action.
We went to camp.
Often used together
Candidate is the person, campaign is the project.
The candidate led the campaign.
Similar form
Campaigner is a person, campaign is the noun.
The campaigner worked hard.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + ran + a + campaign
She ran a campaign.
Subject + campaigned + for + noun
They campaigned for change.
The + campaign + targeted + object
The campaign targeted youth.
A + campaign + to + verb
A campaign to save trees.
Subject + launched + a + campaign
We launched a campaign.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
A campaign implies a series of events, not just one.
Company is a business; campaign is a project.
It needs a 'g'.
Campaign is usually for a specific goal or period.
Campaign is primarily a noun.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a camp in a field where everyone is working together.
Native Usage
Use it when describing a project with a public goal.
Election Season
You will hear this word constantly during election years.
Verb Pattern
Always follow with 'for' or 'against'.
The G
The 'g' is silent in 'campaign'.
Avoid single tasks
Don't call a 5-minute task a campaign.
Military Roots
It started as a military term.
News Check
Read a news article and find the word 'campaign'.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
CAMP + PAIN: You might feel pain if you camp for a long time during a campaign.
Visual Association
A person holding a megaphone at a rally.
Word Web
Challenge
Think of a cause you care about and write one sentence about a campaign for it.
Word Origin
French
Original meaning: Open field
Cultural Context
None, but can be political.
Used heavily in US/UK elections.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Politics
- election campaign
- campaign trail
- candidate
Marketing
- ad campaign
- launch a product
- brand awareness
Social
- awareness campaign
- fundraising
- charity
Business
- sales campaign
- growth strategy
- project management
Conversation Starters
"What is a campaign you have seen recently?"
"Do you think political campaigns are too long?"
"If you could start a campaign, what would it be for?"
"Why do companies spend so much on ad campaigns?"
"Have you ever volunteered for a campaign?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a campaign that changed your mind.
Describe a dream campaign you would lead.
Why are campaigns important for society?
Reflect on how digital media has changed campaigns.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it can be for marketing or social goals.
No, it's too big for that.
C-A-M-P-A-I-G-N.
Yes, you can have many campaigns.
Someone who works for a campaign.
Yes, 'to campaign'.
It is neutral but sounds professional.
French, meaning open field.
Test Yourself
They started a clean-up ___.
Campaign is the correct noun for a project.
Which of these is a campaign?
A campaign is an organized effort.
A campaign is usually a single, one-minute task.
Campaigns are sustained efforts.
Word
Meaning
Matching terms to definitions.
Correct subject-verb order.
Score: /5
Summary
A campaign is a team-based effort to achieve a specific, planned goal over time.
- A campaign is a series of organized actions.
- It has a specific goal.
- It involves teamwork.
- It lasts for a period of time.
Memory Palace
Imagine a camp in a field where everyone is working together.
Native Usage
Use it when describing a project with a public goal.
Election Season
You will hear this word constantly during election years.
Verb Pattern
Always follow with 'for' or 'against'.
Example
The students started a campaign to have more healthy food in the school cafeteria.
Related Content
Learn it in Context
This Word in Other Languages
More Politics words
advocate
C1To publicly recommend, support, or speak in favor of a particular policy, cause, or person. It involves active involvement in trying to influence others to adopt a specific course of action or belief.
empire
B1An empire is a group of states or countries ruled over by a single monarch, an oligarchy, or a sovereign state. It can also refer to a large commercial organization that is owned or controlled by one person or family.
voting
B1The formal activity or process of choosing someone or something in an election, meeting, or group decision by marking a paper, raising a hand, or speaking.
semidictward
C1Describes a tendency or movement toward a partially authoritative or rigid state of control or expression. It is often used in political or organizational analysis to characterize a shift toward centralized command that remains incomplete or moderated.
unlaterist
C1A unilateralist is a person, politician, or nation that advocates for or practices a policy of taking action without consulting or seeking the agreement of other parties or international allies. It describes a stance that prioritizes independent national interests and sovereignty over collective, multilateral cooperation.
kingdom
B1A kingdom is a country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen. It also refers to one of the primary divisions into which natural objects and living organisms are classified in biology, such as the animal or plant kingdom.
ballot
C1To decide a matter or elect a representative by casting secret votes, or to conduct a formal survey among a specific group—often union members—to determine a course of action. It implies a structured, often legal or official, process of gathering collective opinions.
policy
A1A set of ideas or a plan of what to do in particular situations that has been agreed to officially by a group of people, a business organization, a government, or a political party. It acts as a guide for decision-making and describes the rules that must be followed.
neutral
B2Not supporting or helping either side in a conflict, disagreement, or war; remaining impartial. It also describes things that are not strong or distinctive, such as colors that lack hue or substances that are neither acidic nor alkaline.
concede
B2To admit that something is true or valid, typically after first denying or resisting it. It is also frequently used in the context of surrendering a point in an argument or acknowledging defeat in a competition.
