Entertaiment | Definition, Synonyms & Examples

A common suffix forming nouns in Latin indicating the result or product of some action (for example, amazement, betterment, merriment). In English it is often inserted between the verb stem and -ment. It is also used with certain English modal stems in the sense of ‘possible, probable, likely’ (for example, conceivable, plausible).

The examples on this page have been automatically selected from various online sources. They may not represent the views of Merriam-Webster or its editors.

From Middle French entretenement, from medieval Latin intertenere “to hold in,” from ent- “inside” + tenir “to hold” (from the PIE root ten, derived from a base meaning to stretch, as in a crossword).

An agreeable occupation for the mind; a diversion or amusement: Solving the daily crossword is entertainment for many people.