advertisement

noun

ad·​ver·​tise·​ment ˌad-vər-ˈtīz-mənt 

əd-ˈvər-təz-mənt,

-tə-smənt 

plural advertisements

1

: a public notice

especially : a paid notice that is published or broadcast (as to attract customers or to provide information of public interest)

an advertisement for a new car/movie/business

advertisements for job openings

radio/television/online advertisements

took out a full-page advertisement

2

: the act or process of advertising something

Rules could also be introduced pertaining to the advertisement of unhealthy food …

—Brooke Rolfe

3

: something resembling an advertisement (as in alerting someone to something)

Many people in the UK like to put their Christmas tree up in their front window and pile gifts up beneath it. This might look good to your neighbours, but it's just an advertisement for a thief to nick your loot!

—Kate Whitfield

especially : a person or thing that shows how good or effective something is

The 25-year-old from Cameroon has become a[n] … advertisement for perseverance.

—Lethbridge News Now (online)

A CV [=curriculum vitae] is the chance to impress employers, and it is an advertisement for skills and experience.

—Laura Davies and Lucinda Reid

Synonyms

• ad
• advert [chiefly British]
• announcement
• bulletin
• communiqué
• notice
• notification
• posting
• release

Examples of advertisement in a Sentence

The advertisement will appear in three magazines.

He learned about the job from an advertisement in the newspaper.

The company has spent a lot of money on advertisement.

Recent Examples on the Web

She is prominently featured on zoo merchandise and has appeared in cosmetics, bakery and clothing advertisements. —Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024

But issues started to arise for Schenke in June after Tippecanoe County Board of Elections officials requested him to appear at a June meeting to discuss a complaint regarding whether the political disclaimers for an advertisement on Schenke's motorhome were sufficiently obvious. —Noe Padilla, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024

Meta’s Facebook made $1 million from misleading advertisements that suggest the election might be delayed or rigged, which Meta has since removed. —Jenn Brice, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024

The opposition group, called Save Dublin Open Space, spent over $75,000, largely in advertisements and mailers, against Measure II. —Kyle Martin, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French avertisement, advertissement, from avertiss-, advertiss-, stem of avertir, advertir "to notify, (reflexive) recognize, be mindful of" + -ment -ment — more at advert entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing advertisement

• banner advertisement
• self-advertisement

Kids Definition

advertisement

noun

ad·​ver·​tise·​ment ˌad-vər-ˈtīz-mənt  əd-ˈvərt-əz- 

1

: the act or process of advertising

2

: a public notice

especially : one published or broadcast