Definition of INFOTAINMENT

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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

Recent Examples on the Web

All models have touch-screen infotainment display — 6.5 inches wide or 8 inches on the SEL. — Mark Maynard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "2019 Volkswagen Jetta: 7th generation wide-body reboot," 6 July 2018 Advanced infotainment and connectivity technology includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and there is also a rearview camera system on all models. — G. Chambers Williams Iii, Houston Chronicle, "All-new Kona: Small crossover joins Hyundai lineup, starts at $19,500," 5 May 2018 In a new design touch, the infotainment pod stands out nicely in front, and the center console can be configured many different ways to access all sorts of stuff. — Scott Sturgis, Philly.com, "2019 Ram 1500 - bigger, faster, hungrier," 28 Apr. 2018 Advanced infotainment and connectivity technology includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and there is also a rearview camera system on all models. — G. Chambers Williams Iii, star-telegram, "All-new Kona small crossover joins Hyundai lineup, starting at $19,500 | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 31 Mar. 2018 The addressing system will be embedded in Mercedes’ new infotainment and navigation system—called the Mercedes-Benz User Experience or MBUX—which the automaker unveiled this week at CES. — Kirsten Korosec, Fortune, "Why Daimler Invested in a Startup That Has Labeled the World With Unique Three-Word Addresses," 11 Jan. 2018 But iPhone owners will appreciate how cleanly their phone is integrated into the X3's infotainment system. — Carlos Lago, Edmunds, USA TODAY, "Edmunds compares the Audi Q5 and BMW X3. Which luxury SUV has the edge?," 13 July 2018 The InTouch infotainment system has been updated, allowing drivers to personalize driving characteristics and the cabin environment using the 8.0-inch dash touch screen, as well as through buttons beneath the screen and on the steering wheel. — star-telegram, "Infiniti QX80 full-size luxury SUV brings elegance, technology to the family hauler," 30 June 2018 Many car infotainment systems have their own dedicated music streaming apps, and in-car smartphone syncing systems like Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will display the streaming app’s interface on the dashboard itself. — Kim Komando, Fox News, "5 essential tech options for your new car," 6 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'infotainment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.