infotainment
noun
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Infotainment, a blend of "information" and "entertainment," first appeared in the early 1980s. Not everyone approves of "infotainment" and similar pieced-together, media-derived words (e.g., "infomercial" and "edutainment"), however. New York Times Magazine writer Joe Morgenstern referred to "infotainment" as "a plastic word, stuck together with show-biz epoxy." An editorialist for a New England newspaper called it "a nauseating word" that "has crept into the language without an invitation." Unfortunately for such detractors, the word continues to be used today. Not only that, but a new, distinct sense of the word is emerging. People in the automotive industry have recently begun using "infotainment" to refer to the state-of-the-art multimedia technologies (such as GPS systems and Internet radio) now available to drivers at the push of a button.
Examples of infotainment in a Sentence
Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2025
The infotainment screen is fully integrated into the vehicle, allowing audio, climate, and many vehicle functions to be performed with physical buttons, or the digital interface—that’s handy.
—Michael Harley, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
The ability to have an under $50K base price, seating for 7, style and design while still achieving the comfort and easy to use infotainment, is easily a chart topper.
—Marc D Grasso, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2025
The 27-inch OLED screen combines the main instrument display and an infotainment screen.
—Ars Technica, 3 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Infotainment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infotainment. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
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