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From Middle English entretenement (support, maintenance), from Old French entretenement; see entertain.

Morphologically entertain +‎ -ment


  • IPA(key): /ˈɛn.tɚˈteɪn.mənt/
  • (file)
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -eɪnmənt


entertainment (countable and uncountable, plural entertainments)

  1. An activity designed to give pleasure, enjoyment, diversion, amusement, or relaxation to an audience, no matter whether the audience participates passively as in watching opera or a movie, or actively as in games.
    • 1957, William O. Douglas, Roth v. United States:
      The delinquents are generally the adventurous type, who have little use for reading and other non-active entertainment.
  2. A show put on for the enjoyment or amusement of others.
  3. (obsolete) Maintenance or support.
    • 1854?, Charles Dickens, The Seven Poor Travellers:
  4. (obsolete) Admission into service; service.
    • 1601-1608, William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well:
  5. (obsolete) Payment of soldiers or servants; wages.
    • 1612, John Davies, Discoverie of the True Causes why Ireland was never entirely subdued
  6. (obsolete) Reception; (provision of) food to guests or travellers.
    • c. 1599, William Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act II, Scene 4,[1]
      I prithee, shepherd, if that love or gold
      Can in this desert place buy entertainment,
      Bring us where we may rest ourselves and feed.
      Tho’ they cut [the beef] into long Pieces, (like Ropes) with the Hide; and dress’d, and eat it half-roasted according to their Custom, and gave it me in the same Manner; yet I thought this contemptible Food, and what a Beggar in England would not have touch’d, the most delicious Entertainment I ever met with.



Further readingEdit