Entertaiment is an activity that entertains or gratifies. It can take the form of music, movies, television shows, and plays, sports activities, games, and visual art. It can also be a type of ceremony, festival, or social gathering. Entertainment evolves and can be adapted to the scale of an individual who chooses his or her private entertainment from an enormous array of pre-recorded products; a banquet for two; a party for many; or performances intended for thousands.

From late 15c., “to maintain in a certain state of mind,” from Middle English entretenir, from inter- + tenir (“to hold”; see tenere) probably influenced by Latin tenere (from PIE root *ten- “to stretch”) and perhaps referring to holding something inside oneself. The suffix -ment has come to be used with various verb stems forming nouns, such as amazement, betterment, and merriment.