Coined, no; the term dates back to at least 1870 in a non-political context,[0] and I believe there's a documented use in a political context by 1890. Spread, y

Coined, no; the term dates back to at least 1870 in a non-political context,[0] and I believe there's a documented use in a political context by 1890. Spread, yes, especially in via the document "Countering Criticisms of the Warren Report"[1] which used the term "conspiracy theory" and "conspiracy theorist" whilst instructing agents "To employ propaganda assets to [negate] and refute the attacks of the critics" (though that document did not directly instruct agents to use the term). [0]: https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VsRMAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22conspiracy%20theory%22&pg=PA141#v=onepage&q=%22conspiracy%20theory%22&f=true https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=VsRMAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22consp... [1]: http://www.jfklancer.com/CIA.html http://www.jfklancer.com/CIA.html