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

Despite the great Roger Ebert’s own glowing review, many of his contemporaries couldn’t all see of its greatness, with many dismissing it as nonsense or mere shock entertainment. —Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

Lifestyle can cover everything from dating, drama, entertainment, gossip, fashion, style, and cultural commentary to reaction videos and hotel reviews. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2025

The day's biggest entertainment headlines, in your inbox: Sign up for our newsletter. —Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 21 June 2025

Jeremy Gregson, the entertainment director for NWI Pridefest Inc., said entering Pride Month was nerve-wrecking this year, especially as the organization planned its second annual pride festival in Lake Station earlier this month. —Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing entertainment

• entertainment value
• non-entertainment

Rhymes for entertainment

• ascertainment
• arraignment
• attainment
• containment
• entrainment
• sustainment

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