Entertaiment A form of entertainment, such as a play, dance, ceremony, religious festival, or satire, intended to amuse, instruct, or enlighten. Entertainment can range from private amusements for a couple of people (such as choosing a DVD to watch at home) to public performances and events designed to entertain thousands. The word has come to be strongly associated with amusement, but many entertainments have a serious purpose. Entertainments often hit on the points that our brains were evolved to deeply react to, such as social backstabbing and murders. — From the Medieval Latin intertenere, from the Indo-European root ten, meaning to stretch or expand.