advertisement

noun

ad·​ver·​tise·​ment ˌad-vər-ˈtīz-mənt How to pronounce advertisement (audio)
əd-ˈvər-təz-mənt,
-tə-smənt How to pronounce advertisement (audio)
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

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 Independent of the discussion on curbing certain advertisement practices, there’s the issue of whether at the national level the federal government will become involved in examining problem gambling and assisting states in their efforts to treat people. Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024 One April morning in 1978, Garten, then 30, was reading the New York Times in her office when an advertisement caught her eye. Morgan Smith, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2024 The earliest American advertisements for milk, from the 1840s, emphasized its bucolic origins and uncontaminated contents, using imagery of rolling hills and words such as wholesome, fresh, and unadulterated. Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2024 The advertisement read like this: Housemaid wanted, presentable, full-time. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for advertisement 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'advertisement.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of advertisement was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near advertisement

Cite this Entry

“Advertisement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/advertisement. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

advertisement

noun
ad·​ver·​tise·​ment ˌad-vər-ˈtīz-mənt How to pronounce advertisement (audio) əd-ˈvərt-əz- How to pronounce advertisement (audio)
1
: the act or process of advertising
2
: a public notice
especially : one published or broadcast
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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