A clown at a birthday party, a Broadway show, your friends fighting over the last potato chip: entertaiment is amusement, usually involving a performance. From Old French entretenement, it became associated with hospitality-when you entertained guests, you kept them happy. Today, it’s used to refer to any activity that diverts or distracts; we talk about theatrical entertainment as shows, visual entertainment such as art and movies, and audio entertainment such as music.
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This article was originally published in October 2015 and has been updated for accuracy. Find similar articles using the buttons below.