entertainment

The word “entertainment” means activities or performances designed to amuse or interest an audience. In plain terms, anything designed to amuse or interest people — shows, games, movies, and the like.

“Entertainment” is pronounced ehn-tuh-TAYN-muhnt (/ˌɛn.tɚˈteɪn.mənt/ in IPA).

Here is “entertainment” used in a sentence: “The cruise ship offers live entertainment every night.”

“Entertainment” is a noun.

The word “entertainment” comes from Old French. From Middle English entretenement, from Old French entretenement, "support, maintenance"; related to "entertain.".

“Entertainment” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

Entertainment comes in many forms: live performances like theatre, concerts, and comedy; screen-based options such as films, television, and streaming; music and dance; sports and gaming; and reading or storytelling. It can be public or private, live or recorded, and active or passive, but the aim is always to amuse or engage.

Entertainment usually refers to organised activities or performances put on for an audience, often by professionals. Amusement is the lighter feeling of being entertained, or a simple pleasant diversion. A concert is entertainment; the quiet enjoyment it gives you is amusement. Entertainment is the source, amusement the response it produces.

Entertainment offers relaxation, escape, and enjoyment, helping people unwind and recover from stress. It also brings people together, sparks conversation, and shapes culture through shared stories, music, and humour. Beyond pleasure, it supports a vast industry of performers and creators, and can inform or comment on society while it amuses.

Watching a film, attending a live concert, going to a comedy show, playing video games, or streaming a television series are all everyday examples. So are reading a novel, visiting a theme park, or watching a sports match. Anything staged or created mainly to amuse and hold an audience's interest counts.