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
• recreation
• enjoyment
• production
• diversion

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 part of the celebrations that most interests my home entertainment channel, though, is the launch on October 7 of the film’s new 4K Blu-ray edition. —John Archer, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025

Like his career in the entertainment industry, The White Lotus creator had an impressive run on the show’s 37th season that aired in 2018. —Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025

No trip to Memphis is complete without a trip to Beale Street, a three-block entertainment district that’s listed as a National Historical Landmark. —Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 7 Aug. 2025

Multiple live entertainment options are available this weekend, including music festivals and a Broadway musical. —Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 7 Aug. 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