Noun

Singular entertainment

Plural entertainments

entertainment (plural entertainments)

1. An activity designed to give pleasure 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:

     "This," said the matronly presence, ushering me into a low room on the right, "is where the Travellers sit by the fire, and cook what bits of suppers they buy with their fourpences."

     "O! Then they have no Entertainment?" said I. For the inscription over the outer door was still running in my head, and I was mentally repeating, in a kind of tune, "Lodging, entertainment, and fourpence each."

4. Admission into service; service.
   • 1601-1608, William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well:

     He must think us some band of strangers i' the adversary's entertainment.

5. (obsolete) Payment of soldiers or servants; wages.
   • Sir John Davies

     The entertainment of the general upon his first arrival was but six shillings and eight pence.

Derived terms

• entertainment industry

An entertainment is any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time.

Entertainment is typically passive - as in watching opera or a movie. Activities which involve participating in games or sports are more often considered to be recreation. Activities such as personal reading or practising a musical instruments are considered as hobbies.

The industry that provides entertainment is called the entertainment industry. There are many forms of entertainment, which cater for particular tastes. For example, there is cinema, theatre, sports, games, social dance which cater for different groups of people. These may also be grouped on the age of persons interested, such as child entertainment or adult entertainment. For example, puppets, clowns, pantomimes and cartoons tend to appeal to children, though adults may also find them enjoyable.

Forms of entertainment

There are many activities which people find entertaining, though the activities which one person may find entertaining may not be so to another person. The types of things which some people find entertaining would include the following.