entertainment

noun

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

ˌin-

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 of entertainment

• 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 capability needed to run AI at studio level will not be found solely within the conventional media and entertainment system. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026

Shares have fallen roughly 29% over the past three months through Monday's close, partially due to macroeconomic headwinds and rising competition from alternative gambling and entertainment platforms. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026

That means looking ahead to the forces that are reshaping entertainment and finding ways to harness them to expand what’s possible – for creators, for audiences and for the business itself. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

But streaming platforms now rival, and in some cases surpass, broadcast TV as a go-to form of entertainment, particularly among the younger viewers that the TV Academy hopes to engage. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

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