infomercial

American  

[in-fuh-mur-shuhl, -foh-] / ˌɪn fəˈmɜr ʃəl, -foʊ- /

noun

Radio and Television.

1. a long commercial that informs or instructs, especially in an original and entertaining manner.

   an infomercial on making Christmas decorations using the sponsor's brand of glue.

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infomercial British  

/ ˌɪnfəˈmɜːʃəl /

noun

1. a short film, usually for television, which advertises a product or service in an informative way

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Etymology

Origin of infomercial

Blend of information and commercial

Example Sentences

US media has been less enthusiastic in its reviews, with The Atlantic calling the documentary a "disgrace" and the Variety trade magazine describing it as a "shameless infomercial."

From Barron's • Jan. 31, 2026

“Unlike infomercial sleep books or costly consultants at $300+ per consultation, ChatGPT provides live troubleshooting at half the cost, at only $20 monthly.”

From Salon • Sep. 20, 2025

One of the first was “American Gigolo,” a 1980 film that has often been compared to an infomercial for Armani menswear.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 4, 2025

But what hasn’t changed is how the infomercial industry has learned to adapt.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2025

She was doing her pageant smile; she was every infomercial I’d ever seen, with me as the studio audience.

From "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" by emily m. danforth