What does manifesto mean?
A manifesto is a formal public declaration that sets out the principles, aims, or convictions of a person or group. The word is especially common in political, social, artistic, and activist contexts, where a manifesto may announce a program of action or establish a group's guiding ideas. It is broader than a casual statement and often carries an implication of authority, commitment, and an invitation to support or act on its principles. A manifesto can be a short document, such as a party's election platform, or a longer text associated with a movement or creative project. Its tone may range from practical to idealistic, so the word can describe either a practical programme or a bold declaration of ideals. The expression is widely understood in formal English and has no major regional restriction.
nounA public statement, especially one issued by a political, artistic, or ideological group, that declares its principles, aims, or proposed course of action. It may also refer more generally to a formal declaration or statement of convictions.
- A public declaration of the principles, aims, or intentions of a political, artistic, ideological, or other group.
- A formal document or statement expressing a position, program, or set of convictions.
"The movement published a manifesto calling for greater political transparency and equal access to education."
"The authors issued a manifesto rejecting the proposed changes to the education system."
"The album was accompanied by a manifesto explaining the band's artistic and political commitments."
The plural manifestos is standard and most common; manifestoes is also used, especially in British English.
"The museum has published manifestos by several generations of artists."
A manifesto is more than a statement: it is a public declaration intended to make its principles impossible to ignore.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does manifesto come from?
Manifesto comes from the Latin manifestum, meaning a public declaration, and is related to manifestus, meaning clear, open, or evident. English borrowed the word in the early 17th century for a public or formal declaration. The same Latin root underlies words such as manifest, manifestly, and manifestation, which share the idea of something being made clear or openly apparent.
How manifesto is actually used
The word is formal and commonly associated with public declarations by political parties, movements, artists, writers, and activist groups. It can sound forceful, idealistic, or programmatic, especially when a document is presented as a definitive statement of guiding principles.
Easily confused with manifesto
A manifesto is a declaration or statement of principles, while manifest is chiefly an adjective meaning clear or obvious, though it can also be a verb meaning to show or reveal.