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

This decline is attributed to lower revenues from entertainment offerings and food, beverage, and merchandise sales. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024

This is a show with a major Hollywood star in Colin Farrell and, more importantly, a major entertainment brand in DC comics, the success of which is quite important to David Zaslav and Warner Bros. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024

Actor Harrison Ford publicly endorsed Harris on Saturday, adding his voice to an expanding coalition of entertainment industry figures backing the Democratic nominee. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

The entertainment industry is going through a content pullback, with scale top of mind for many in the business. —Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 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