infotainment
noun
Did you know?
Infotainment, a blend of "information" and "entertainment," first appeared in the early 1980s. Not everyone approves of "infotainment" and similar pieced-together, media-derived words (e.g., "infomercial" and "edutainment"), however. New York Times Magazine writer Joe Morgenstern referred to "infotainment" as "a plastic word, stuck together with show-biz epoxy." An editorialist for a New England newspaper called it "a nauseating word" that "has crept into the language without an invitation." Unfortunately for such detractors, the word continues to be used today. Not only that, but a new, distinct sense of the word is emerging. People in the automotive industry have recently begun using "infotainment" to refer to the state-of-the-art multimedia technologies (such as GPS systems and Internet radio) now available to drivers at the push of a button.
Examples of infotainment in a Sentence
Mark Phelan, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
This five-seater features a no-fluff cabin that's all about keeping it simple – from the single-color interior panels and seat fabrics, to the straightforward infotainment system, climate controls and instrument panel.
—New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2025
The base Elevation trim offers a lot of good technology such as a 15-inch infotainment screen and over 16 standard safety features.
—Keenan Thompson, Freep.com, 14 Oct. 2025
The dash features two 12.3-inch displays, a gauge cluster and an infotainment system, including wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infotainment
Cite this Entry
“Infotainment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infotainment. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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