Perpetuate
Gossip, inequality, and inside jokes all share a verb for keeping something alive, whether you meant to or not.
Learn This WordMeaning
To make something continue indefinitely; to preserve a harmful situation or idea.
Memory trick
PERPETUATE = make perpetual, keep something going, for good or ill.
Examples
Biased hiring practices can perpetuate inequality.
Sharing unchecked rumors perpetuates misinformation.
Good documentation helps perpetuate knowledge across teams.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Latin perpetuus "continuous, entire," from per- "through" + petere "to seek, go toward."
Usage Notes
Often used for negative patterns ("perpetuate stereotypes"), but can be neutral ("perpetuate tradition").
Real-life contexts
Use for systems: "This rule perpetuates bad incentives."
Use for culture: "We don’t want to perpetuate fear of failure."
Use positively: "Mentorship perpetuates craft and standards."
Common Mistakes
Perpetuate is not the same as "perpetrate" (to commit a crime or act).
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Part of Speech
verb
Difficulty
intermediateMonthly Searches
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