entertainment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal
Quick answer
What does “entertainment” mean?
The act of providing amusement or enjoyment, especially through performances, shows, or other activities.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of providing amusement or enjoyment, especially through performances, shows, or other activities.
The industry or profession involved in providing amusement to the public; also, the state of being entertained or occupied in a pleasant way.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Spelling is identical. Minor collocational preferences exist (e.g., UK 'entertainments licence', US 'entertainment license').
Connotations
Both share connotations of public spectacle, media, and leisure industries.
Frequency
Similarly high frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “entertainment” in a Sentence
source of entertainmententertainment for (audience)entertainment industryin the entertainment businessVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “entertainment” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The host will entertain the guests with a magic trick.
- He entertained us with stories of his travels.
American English
- The club entertains a large crowd every weekend.
- She entertained the idea of moving to Hollywood.
adverb
British English
- The film was entertainingly ridiculous.
- He spoke entertainingly about his adventures.
American English
- The show was entertainingly fast-paced.
- She wrote entertainingly about celebrity culture.
adjective
British English
- The entertainment sector is highly competitive.
- We booked an entertainment licence for the festival.
American English
- The entertainment industry is centered in Los Angeles.
- It was purely for entertainment purposes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the multi-sector industry encompassing film, TV, music, gaming, and live events (e.g., 'The merger reshaped the entertainment landscape').
Academic
Used in cultural, media, or sociological studies (e.g., 'The political economy of mass entertainment').
Everyday
Refers to casual leisure activities (e.g., 'We need to find some entertainment for the kids').
Technical
In law, 'entertainment expenses'; in computing, 'entertainment system'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “entertainment”
- Using 'an entertainment' as a countable noun too freely (prefer 'a form of entertainment'). Confusing 'entertainment' (the experience/industry) with 'hospitality' (welcoming guests).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily uncountable (e.g., 'We watched for entertainment'). It can be countable when referring to specific events or types (e.g., 'the various entertainments on offer'), but this is less common.
'Entertainment' often implies a more organised, public, or performance-based activity (a concert, a film). 'Amusement' can be simpler, more private, or momentary (a funny joke, a carnival ride).
Yes, attributively (e.g., 'entertainment industry', 'entertainment value'). The dedicated adjective is 'entertaining'.
Yes, very common. It refers to audiovisual systems (TVs, stereos, game consoles) and content (streaming, DVDs) used for leisure in the home.
The act of providing amusement or enjoyment, especially through performances, shows, or other activities.
Entertainment is usually neutral to formal in register.
Entertainment: in British English it is pronounced /ˌen.təˈteɪn.mənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌen.t̬ɚˈteɪn.mənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bread and circuses”
- “dinner and a show”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ENTER + TAIN + MENT — you ENTER a place to be enter-TAINED, and the result is entertain-MENT.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENTERTAINMENT IS A COMMODITY (consume entertainment, produce entertainment, entertainment market).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely to be described as 'entertainment' in a standard context?