Entertaiment is a form of consumer activity that satisfies the desire for pleasure and provides enjoyment. It encompasses the activity of consumption of media, involves an external stimulus, communication between text and audience, satisfies the needs of an audience, offers pleasure and occurs in a passive form. It is an activity that can be adapted to suit a variety of scales: from the individual who selects his or her own private entertainment on a CD, to the banquet for two, to performances for thousands, or even to a global audience.
The word comes from the Latin intertenere, which means “to hold inside.” Entertain or be entertained are related verbs, as is entertain someone. Other similar words include occupy, amuse, and divert.