advert
AD-vurt
Advert (noun) means British informal term for an advertisement. Example: “There was a funny advert on TV last night for a car insurance company.”
noun
1
British informal term for an advertisement.
"On the day that decision was made, Virgin adverts appeared at St Pancras to let everyone (including its rival) know that things are going to change."
— Gareth Williams speaks to David Stubbings, The RAIL Interview (2026)
"In America alone, people spent $170 billion on “direct marketing”—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last year. Yet of those who received unsolicited adverts through the post, only 3% bought anything as a result."
— , No hiding place (2013)
"There was a funny advert on TV last night for a car insurance company."
"This was a wonderful advert for the Premier League, with both Chelsea and United intent on all-out attack - but Ferguson will be concerned at how his side lost their way after imperiously controlling much of the first period."
— Phil McNulty, Chelsea 2 - 1 Man Utd (2011)
verb
1
To refer to or mention something in passing, or to pay attention to it.
"She adverted briefly to the budget cuts before moving on."
How to use advert
Learner’s notes
Common mistake
Don't confuse the verb advert (to refer to something) with avert (to prevent or turn away, as in "avert disaster").
When to use it
Mainly British and Commonwealth English; Americans typically say "ad" or "commercial" instead.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- adverts
- Third person singular
- adverts
- Past tense
- adverted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There was a funny _____ on TV last night for a car insurance company.
Etymology
A shortened form of advertisement.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “advert” mean?
The word “advert” means british informal term for an advertisement.
How do you pronounce “advert”?
“Advert” is pronounced AD-vurt (/ˈædvɝt/ in IPA).
How do you use “advert” in a sentence?
Here is “advert” used in a sentence: “There was a funny advert on TV last night for a car insurance company.”
What is another word for “advert”?
Words with a similar meaning to “advert” include refer.
What part of speech is “advert”?
Depending on how it is used, “advert” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “advert” a common word?
“Advert” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “advert” have?
“Advert” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: british informal term for an advertisement.
