Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A public declaration of principles, policies, or intentions, especially of a political nature.
  • intransitive verb To issue such a declaration.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A public declaration, as of a sovereign or government, or of any person or body of persons, making known certain intentions, or proclaiming certain opinions and motives in reference to some act or course of conduct done or contemplated; in general, a proclamation.
  • To affect by a manifesto; issue manifestos or declarations.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A public declaration, usually of a prince, sovereign, or other person claiming large powers, showing his intentions, or proclaiming his opinions and motives in reference to some act done or contemplated by him.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A public declaration of principles, policies, or intentions, especially that of a political party.
  • verb intransitive To issue a manifesto

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a public declaration of intentions (as issued by a political party or government)

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Italian, from Latin manifestus, clear, evident; see manifest.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

[mid 17th century] From Italian, from manifestare, from Latin manifesto ("to make public")

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Examples

  • For the European Election If you normally vote Labour or Lib Dem – Vote Green (I will be for the first time ever even in the policing bit of their manifesto is a bit mad), If you normally vote Tory – vote UKIP.

    Easy Come, Easy Go! Geddit? « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2009

  • The first page of his manifesto is all about how he got involved in “patriotic” “tax code readings” in southern California, which were pretty much scams to separate him from his money.

    Matthew Yglesias » A Sensible Response to Terrorism 2010

  • The creators of these terms, Michiel Schwarz and Joost Elffers, have presented what they describe as a manifesto for the 21st century.

    The Guardian World News Justin McGuirk 2011

  • Rhee-Klein "manifesto" a "concise compilation of today's fads and gimmicks in education" (The Answer Sheet)

    DeMorning DeBonis: Oct. 12, 2010 Mike DeBonis 2010

  • I don't think the 'manifesto' is simply flog 'em and string 'em up anymore - there're a whole raft of issues and a much broader spectrum of people beginning to think this way.

    RAGE RAGE RAGE Newmania 2007

  • Whereas you have signified to us that your society have desired us to join with them in a public fast, in order to your intended communion, our answer is, that as we have formerly once and again insinuated unto you, that if you would in due manner lay aside what you call your manifesto, and resolve and declare that you will keep to the heads of agreement on which the United Brethren in London have made their union, and then publicly proceed with the presence, countenance, and concurrence of the

    The Emancipation of Massachusetts Brooks Adams 1887

  • The manifesto is entirely underwhelming, while the drama surrounding it is equally unwarranted.

    The Open Cloud Manifesto Is Nothing But a Vapor Tiger 2009

  • A variety of international groups have produced a public domain manifesto [15].

    A Progressive on the Prairie » Weekend Edition: 1-30 » Print 2010

  • The manifesto is aimed at transforming the educational "experiences for every child in each of our schools."

    The Purple Haze of Public Education... 2009

  • The entire manifesto is here, but seriously, this is not worth the crazy shenanigans that preceded it.

    The Open Cloud Manifesto Is Nothing But a Vapor Tiger 2009

Comments

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  • "At present, the whole political system works like this. We elect a government on the basis of a manifesto containing hundreds of proposals. Probability suggests that a few thousand open-minded people might agree or disagree with all of them. Everyone else will favour some policies and reject others. But the new government interprets its victory as public support for every item in the manifesto, except those that it decides to drop. The moment we seek to refine our choice, by protesting against one of the proposals we are deemed to have supported, we are told that we are being undemocratic: the people have spoken - who are we to disagree? In the meantime, corporate lobbyists glide through government offices, reshaping policies to suit their commercial needs." - 'An Idiot's Referendum', George Monbiot, 11 Sep 2007.

    December 12, 2007

  • Ouch. That's a chilling quote. Chilling because it's so true.

    December 13, 2007

  • a spectre is haunting bohemia...

    August 4, 2008