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

Entertainment is an activity designed to give people a diversion. It is usually conducted in one's free time. An audience may participate in the entertainment passively as in watching opera or a movie, or actively as in games.

The playing of sports and reading of literature could be considered a form of entertainment, but these are more often called recreation, because they involve some active participation.

The industry that provides entertainment is called the entertainment industry.

Examples of entertainment

Animation

Animation provides moving images that are generated by an artist, in contrast to the live action normally used in motion pictures. It is typically accompanied by a sound track consisting of recordings of live actors. Animation is often used in computer-based forms of entertainment.

Cartoons are a comedic form of animation. Anime or TV manga refers to animation originating from Japan in the Occidental use of the word. In Japan the word refers to all animation. It may contain adult themes and futuristic locations.