the act or art of entertaining or state of being entertained an act, production, etc, that entertains; diversion; amusement
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
en•ter•tain•ment /ˌɛntɚˈteɪnmənt/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- [uncountable] the act of entertaining, as by providing food and hospitality to guests.
- amusement;
distraction from one's regular thoughts:[uncountable]What do you do for entertainment? - something affording pleasure or amusement:[countable]plays, concerts, and other entertainments.
en•ter•tain•ment
(en′tər tān′mənt),USA pronunciation n.
- the act of entertaining;
agreeable occupation for the mind;
diversion;
amusement:Solving the daily crossword puzzle is an entertainment for many. - Fine Art, Literaturesomething affording pleasure, diversion, or amusement, esp. a performance of some kind:The highlight of the ball was an elaborate entertainment.
- hospitable provision for the needs and wants of guests.
- Literaturea divertingly adventurous, comic, or picaresque novel.
- [Obs.]maintenance in service.
- entertain + -ment 1525–35
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'entertainment' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
A&E
- BECTU
- Baker
- Disneyfy
- Dutch treat
- ENSA
- ESPN
- act
- adult
- all-dayer
- all-nighter
- almanac
- amateur night
- amusement
- amusement tax
- arena
- attraction
- backstage
- ballad opera
- ballet
- bear-baiting
- benefit
- bet
- big time
- bill
- bill of fare
- blow out
- blowout
- bonfire
- borscht circuit
- box office
- bread and circuses
- bugaku
- cabaret
- cabaret tax
- café chantant
- canteen
- carnival
- casino
- ceilidh
- chairperson
- charade
- charades
- choragus
- circus
- clip joint
- coffeehouse
- comprise
- concert party
- conjuring