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
Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
There’s a new 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system that comes with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
—New Atlas, 24 Jan. 2026
The technology was easy to use – a major plus given most infotainment systems in recent years have gotten progressively harder to navigate.
—Marc D Grasso, Hartford Courant, 24 Jan. 2026
The cabin will also feature its fair share of tech, including a 15.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system that features Gemini, Google’s AI assistant.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for infotainment
Cite this Entry
“Infotainment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infotainment. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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