entertainment

[ en-ter-teyn-muhnt ]

noun

1. the act of entertaining; entertaining; agreeable occupation for the mind; diversion; amusement:

   Solving the daily crossword puzzle is an entertainment for many.

2. something affording pleasure, diversion, or amusement, especially a performance of some kind:

   The highlight of the ball was an elaborate entertainment.

3. hospitable provision for the needs and wants of guests.
4. a divertingly adventurous, comic, or picaresque novel.
5. Obsolete. maintenance in service.

entertainment

/ ˌɛntəˈteɪnmənt /

noun

1. the act or art of entertaining or state of being entertained
2. an act, production, etc, that entertains; diversion; amusement

Other Words From

• nonen·ter·tainment noun adjective
• preen·ter·tainment noun
• self-enter·tainment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of entertainment¹

First recorded in 1525–35; entertain + -ment

Example Sentences

As long as it’s entertainment and within meme culture, she says, “we’re in the clear zone.”

From MIT Technology Review

As more consumers ditch their cable companies, it means fewer are paying local taxes for TV entertainment, which are capped by federal law at 5%.

From Fortune

Given those ties, it’s easier to see why both Triller and TikTok’s push into entertainment crossover.

From Digiday

Nearly five months after much of the entertainment industry shut down, musicians still can’t tour and actors still can’t make movies or shows.

From Digiday

Scrap video entertainment, grab flashlights, lots of board games and load up on app games like Head’s Up.

From Ozy

Speech, in this case, is our ability to spend money on a goofy entertainment.

From The Daily Beast

“The cyber attack against Sony Pictures Entertainment was not just an attack against a company and its employees,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

Beyoncé has, for close to a decade now, been a deity in entertainment: untouchable, successful, divine.

From The Daily Beast

MGM and Columbia are both subsidiaries of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

From The Daily Beast

Like Sony Entertainment's The Interview, political pressure delayed the arrivale of foreign films in Korea.

From The Daily Beast

I assured him I was well refreshed with his good entertainment and company, and as much in my senses as ever I was in my life.

From Project Gutenberg

In this sort of entertainment he has had many followers, among whom the most noted was Charles Matthews.

From Project Gutenberg

He who keeps up such entertainment longest and kills most of the said animals is most respected.

From Project Gutenberg

Somebody must explain and manage the entertainment in the radio tent, and who better than Jessie?

From Project Gutenberg

The entertainment upon such occasions, may vary with the taste of the hostess, or the caprice of her guests.

From Project Gutenberg