entertainment

noun

en·​ter·​tain·​ment ˌen-tər-ˈtān-mənt 

1

a

: amusement or diversion provided especially by performers

hired a band to provide entertainment

b

: something diverting or engaging: such as

(1)

: a public performance

(2)

: a usually light comic or adventure novel

2

: the act of entertaining

3

a

archaic : maintenance, provision

b

obsolete : employment

Synonyms

• amusement
• distraction
• diversion
• recreation

Examples of entertainment in a Sentence

Entertainment was provided by jugglers.

plays, movies, and other forms of entertainment

They played games in the evening for entertainment.

plays, movies, and other entertainments

Recent Examples on the Web

The text messages — rife with bravado, boasts and intrigue — have fueled a scandal that has rocked the entertainment industry and spotlighted the ruthless underbelly of the Hollywood publicity machine. —Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2024

The first stop for Babygirl in the home entertainment market will be on digital streaming, via premium video on demand. —Tim Lammers, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024

Squid Game director Hwang Dong-hyuk recently praised the BigBang alum’s performance in Season 2 of the Netflix K-drama as rapper Thanos after he was previously blackballed from Korean entertainment following his 2017 guilty plea to marijuana usage. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 28 Dec. 2024

Not many people see the path for Paramount+ to make it to the top of the mountain of entertainment — not without a hell of a lot more bundling. —Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 28 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing entertainment

• entertainment value
• non-entertainment

Kids Definition

entertainment

noun

en·​ter·​tain·​ment ˌen-tər-ˈtān-mənt 

1

: the act or process of providing pleasure, recreation, or amusement

2

: a means of amusement or recreation

especially : a public performance