a message issued in behalf of some product or cause or idea or person or institution
"the packaging of new ideas"
Advertising or other activity designed to rouse public interest in something.
"The company launched a massive publicity campaign to generate excitement about their new product launch."
In plain English: Publicity is when news about something gets shared widely so that many people know about it.
"The movie gained significant publicity after its star won an international award."
Usage: Publicity refers specifically to media attention generated by news coverage, word-of-mouth, or events rather than paid advertisements. Use this term when describing free exposure gained through the press instead of "advertising," which implies a direct financial purchase for promotion.
The word publicity comes from the French publicité and ultimately from the Latin pūblicus, meaning "public" or "general." It entered English with this same core sense of something belonging to the community rather than a private individual.