English Reference
noun

entertainment

n.
US /ˌɛnɝˈteɪnmənt/ UK /ˌɛntətˈeɪnmənt/ en·ter·tain·ment UK spelling entertainment's, entertainment's

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    the feeling of being amused or the general activity of having fun through shows, music, or games.

    the action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment. Uncountable in this abstract sense.

    Simple

    The city offers plenty of entertainment for families, including parks and museums.

    In context

    The cruise ship provides a wide variety of entertainment to ensure that passengers of all ages remain occupied during the long voyage.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    a specific performance or show, like a play or a concert.

    a specific performance, event, or activity designed to amuse an audience. Countable in this sense.

    Simple

    The local school put on a musical entertainment for the parents.

    In context

    The evening's entertainment consisted of a string quartet followed by a brief but impressive display of traditional folk dancing.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    the business of making films, television, and music.

    the commercial industry devoted to producing and distributing media for public amusement.

    Simple

    She moved to Los Angeles to find a job in the entertainment industry.

    In context

    Technological shifts have fundamentally altered the entertainment landscape, forcing traditional studios to compete with global streaming platforms.

    show businessmedia

From Middle English entretenement (“support, maintenance”), from Old French entretenement; see entertain. Morphologically entertain + -ment.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Old French entretenement
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated