50 cent army

English

Alternative forms

• fifty cent army, fifty-cent army, 50-cent army

Etymology

A calque of Chinese 五毛黨／五毛党 (wǔmáodǎng), lit. "the 5 dime party", in reference to allegations that the Chinese government employs online shills paid 1/2 yuan RMB per online post at the time they first came to public attention.

Noun

50 cent army

1. Alleged Internet users who are paid by the authorities of the People's Republic of China to spread propaganda and disinformation on their behalf.
2. (derogatory) Anyone seen as supportive of China or the Communist Party of China, whether paid or not.

Synonyms

• wumaos

Hypernyms

• keyboard army

Translations

Translations

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 五毛黨／五毛党 (wǔmáodǎng)

• Japanese: 五毛党 (gomōtō)