What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
hype
Example
The company's marketing team created a lot of hype around their new product launch. [hype: noun]
Example
The movie was hyped up so much that it didn't live up to people's expectations. [hyped: past participle]
publicity
Example
The company received a lot of positive publicity after donating a portion of their profits to charity. [publicity: noun]
Example
The celebrity's scandal caused a lot of negative publicity for their brand. [publicity: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Publicity is more commonly used than hype in everyday language. Publicity is a versatile term that covers a wide range of promotional activities, while hype is more specific and often used in the context of entertainment or consumer products.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between hype and publicity?
Both hype and publicity can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but publicity is more commonly used in formal settings such as business or academic writing.