divertissement

noun

di·​ver·​tisse·​ment di-ˈvər-tə-smənt 

-təz-,

French

dē-ver-tē-smäⁿ 

plural divertissements di-ˈvər-tə-smən(t)s 

-təz-,

dē-ver-tē-smäⁿ(z)

1

: a dance sequence or short ballet usually used as an interlude

2

: divertimento sense 1

3

: diversion, entertainment

Did you know?

Divertissement can mean "diversion" in both English and French, and it probably won't surprise you to learn that "divertissement" and "diversion" can be traced back to the same Latin root : divertere, meaning "to turn in opposite directions." Early uses of "divertissement" in English often occurred in musical contexts, particularly opera and ballet, describing light sequences that entertained but did little to further the story. (The word's Italian cousin, divertimento, is used in a similar way.) Today "divertissement" can refer to any kind of amusement or pastime, specifically one that provides a welcome distraction from what is burdensome or distressing.

Synonyms

• delight
• distraction
• diversion
• entertainment
• fun
• pleasure
• recreation

Examples of divertissement in a Sentence

for visitors seeking more cerebral divertissement, the city boasts a fine performing arts center

Recent Examples on the Web

The loveliest expression of these is in the second act, where the enchanted forest is replaced by a pure-dance divertissement. —Sarah L. Kaufman, Washington Post, 10 June 2022

And the Mother Ginger divertissement had to be omitted altogether, since there was no way to fit eight older Polichinelles under her skirt. —Jeffrey Gantz, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Nov. 2021

This season, the Act 2 pas de quatre, a speedy and demanding divertissement for three women and one man, was cut to help streamline the ballet. —New York Times, 25 Feb. 2020

Historical revisionism as an academic divertissement is corrupting, muddling the intellects of generations. —Jakub Grygiel, National Review, 8 Nov. 2019

Festive music is suddenly heard as the people celebrate Thésée’s safe return in an ironic divertissement. —George Loomis, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2018

Whole numbers were excised, though Prokofiev was able to salvage some of the divertissements elsewhere in the score. —Joshua Barone, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2018

With the young Queen Victoria often in the audience, the world’s foremost ballerinas appeared there, sometimes in duets, trios, and quartets, with Perrot making creative breakthroughs in terms of both narrative ballet and pure-dance divertissements. —Alastair MacAulay, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Apr. 2018

With the young Queen Victoria often in the audience, the world’s foremost ballerinas appeared there, sometimes in duets, trios and quartets, with Perrot making creative breakthroughs in terms of both narrative ballet and pure-dance divertissements. —Alastair MacAulay, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2018

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, diversion, from divertiss- (stem of divertir)

First Known Use

circa 1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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