An act or piece of entertainment. Entertaiment is a broad and tangled subject, encompassing a multitude of forms that have evolved over time in different media. As such, it can be difficult to know where to start, and what to include or exclude. What may seem like low-brow entertainment to one person or group might be seen as a form of art by another. See also: art, culture, and society. These examples are automatically compiled from online sources and may not reflect the views of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
From Middle French entretenement, from Latin intertenere, from tenere (“to hold”). Also see ENTERTAINMENT NEWS.