# advert

/ˈædvɝt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/advert
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. an advertisement

noun · CEFR B1 · British English · Informal

a short word for an advertisement, like a video or picture that tries to sell you something.

For teachers: a clipping of 'advertisement' used to denote a public notice or announcement promoting a product, service, or event.

- I saw an advert for a new car while I was watching the football match.
- The marketing team decided to run a full-page advert in the Sunday edition to capture the attention of weekend shoppers.

Usage: Commonly used in speech and journalism in the UK; 'ad' is more universal.

Teaching tip: Learners should note that 'advert' is standard in British English but sounds distinctly foreign to most American speakers, who prefer 'ad' or 'commercial'.

### 2. to refer to

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal

to mention or talk about something in a formal way.

For teachers: to refer to or call attention to a subject or fact. Intransitive verb that typically takes the preposition 'to'.

- In his speech, the director adverted to the company's difficult year.
- The report briefly adverts to the environmental impact of the project without providing specific data on carbon emissions.

Usage: Always used with the preposition 'to'.

Teaching tip: This verb sense is extremely rare in modern conversation and is almost exclusively found in legal or highly academic writing.

## Examples

- I saw an advert for shoes on TV.
- The company spent millions on a new TV advert to launch their summer collection.
- The minimalist advert relied on silence and stark imagery to convey the brand's commitment to environmental sustainability.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.