Entertaiment is a broad term that can be applied to anything that amuses or delights people. Examples include movies, books, music, party games, religious festivals and satire. The entertainment experience has a flexible structure that can be adapted to any scale, from one individual choosing a personal entertainment from the now enormous range of pre-recorded products; to a banquet arranged for two; to performances designed for thousands or even a global audience.
The word comes from the Medieval Latin intertenere, with the prefix “in” and the suffix “tenere,” which means “to hold inside.” The sense grew to include enjoyment as well as amusement. The word also has a close relationship to the concept of the “entertainment industry.” Click on the collocations buttons to find more related words.