advertisement
Americannoun
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advertisements
plural
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a paid announcement, as of goods for sale, in newspapers or magazines, on radio or television, or on the internet.
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a public notice, especially in print.
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the action of making generally known; a calling to the attention of the public.
The news of this event will receive wide advertisement.
noun
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."
Vocabulary lists containing advertisement
Media Literacy - High School
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Media Literacy - Middle School
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Cormac McCarthy's "The Road"
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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:
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
He also came across an online advertisement for a law firm dubbed the Crypto Lawyers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
A 1968 advertisement published in The Times beckoned investors to purchase their own two-acre lake for less than $12,000.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
That morning, New York newspapers carried an advertisement, placed by the German embassy in Washington, warning, “Travelers intending to embark on the Atlantic voyage...do so at their own risk.”
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
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Football fans were shown a "constant bombardment" of advertisements promoting junk food and drinks during matches at the 2026 Fifa World Cup, according to a new study.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Starting with the 2027 model year, advertisements for Stellantis vehicles generally cannot go below the invoice price paid by the dealer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026
Candidates in more than 20 races across at least 18 states have run television advertisements mentioning data centers this election cycle, almost evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
So far this decade, Walmart has built up its so-called retail media network, which charges brands for advertisements and sponsored searches on the retailer’s websites and apps.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
Various glowing advertisements of it had appeared in the papers.
From "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.