verb
perpetuate
per-PECH-oo-ayt/pərˈpetʃueɪt/
To cause something to continue, especially something harmful or outdated.
The owner teaches the apprentice a wasteful habit, helping perpetuate it.
Etymology
The continuous base becomes an action: making something endure rather than disappear. In the selected sense, that preserving effect keeps a harmful practice or outdated condition going.
In context
we are only helping to perpetuate our corrupt system and these elites will continue to misbehave
More examples
- The policy perpetuated inequalities between schools.
- She challenged customs that perpetuate unfair treatment.
- The family hopes to perpetuate his memory through the scholarship.
Forms
perpetuate · perpetuates · perpetuated · perpetuating
Similar words
- preserve
- Preserve protects or keeps; perpetuate causes something to continue, often a problem or practice.
- prolong
- Prolong extends duration; perpetuate makes a practice, condition, or memory continue.