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advertisement

American  
[ad-ver-tahyz-muhnt, ad-vur-tis-muhnt, -tiz-] / ˌæd vərˈtaɪz mənt, ædˈvɜr tɪs mənt, -tɪz- /

noun

  • advertisements
    plural
  1. a paid announcement, as of goods for sale, in newspapers or magazines, on radio or television, or on the internet.

  2. a public notice, especially in print.

  3. the action of making generally known; a calling to the attention of the public.

    The news of this event will receive wide advertisement.


advertisement British  
/ ədˈvɜːtɪsmənt, -tɪz- /

noun

  1. Shortened forms: ad, advert. any public notice, as a printed display in a newspaper, short film on television, announcement on radio, etc, designed to sell goods, publicize an event, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns


Etymology

Origin of advertisement

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French avertissement; see origin at advertise, -ment


Explanation

A public notice promoting the sale of a certain item is called an advertisement. The word is often shortened to ad. They're on TV, on the radio, online, in the paper — you can't even escape advertisements at the movies. Although advertisements are usually meant to persuade, they aren't always just for selling goods. They're a great way to get the word out on just about anything. You can place an advertisement for all kinds of things: to look for your long-lost sister, to hire an employee, or to announce a local dance. Even way back in the 1600s, the British were posting advertisements for trips to a newfound place called "Virginia."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing advertisement

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The analysts forecast seasonally soft revenue growth for both advertisement and commerce segments due to the Chuseok holiday in September.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Earlier this month, Augustine’s lawyer Gary A. Dordick posted a mock-movie advertisement that included a description and photo of the 2022 incident as well as the time, date and location of the upcoming court date.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

I found Sedona Quantum Consciousness online, via an advertisement for its Cell-Well Medbed, which appeared in photos to be a souped-up tanning bed.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

During the build-up Nordqvist and Stanford both spoke of using the Solheim Cup as an advertisement for women's golf.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

Instead it had stood for that month and a half as a vivid advertisement of the fair’s incomplete condition.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Facebook then used that information to show Salazar targeted advertisements.

From Slate ● Oct. 17, 2026

Talarico has already faced AI-generated advertisements and baseless claims that he is vegan, an apparently disqualifying dietary choice in the barbecue-heavy southern state.

From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026

AI slop has begun appearing on restaurant menus, signs and advertisements, offering food imagery that looks optimized for appetite without necessarily resembling anything a person could cook.

From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026

Beau said Daisy’s advertisements start with images of real food.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

But the cheerful advertisements painted on the sides of buildings like the Tic Toe diner and the Pocahontas movie theater were faded and nearly illegible.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

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