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

It’s been rumored for quite some time that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may pursue banning prescription drug advertisements on television. —Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

Teens can easily locate drugs on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, where drug traffickers often make advertisements in disappearing 24-hours posts, according to the DEA. —Rachel Hale, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025

Brokers, agents and advertisements also play an important role in which plans people choose. —Grace McCormack, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2025

To the public’s great relief, commissioners last week approved an advertisement for the administrator’s job with an April 28 application deadline. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2025

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