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

Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025

Fubo carries a wide array of sports and entertainment channels, including local sports packages and top national channels like ABC, FOX, CBS, ESPN, FS1, MTV, Comedy Central, and much more. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025

Still, the economy seats feel generously spacious for the class, with sufficient knee room and large in-flight entertainment screens with both USB-A and C ports. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025

The plan aimed to redevelop the land into new affordable housing, seniors homes, retail, restaurants and entertainment spaces. —Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 11 Dec. 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