Britannica AI Icon

Quick Summary

The "big lie" is a propaganda technique that involves a deliberate and gross distortion of the truth. This tactic is used to deceive and manipulate, often by presenting a falsehood so enormous that people find it difficult to believe someone in a position of authority would utter it. The term was notably used in relation to Adolf Hitler's propaganda methods. It is distinct from a simple lie or fib, as it specifically refers to a large-scale deception employed for propaganda purposes.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.