What does entertainer mean?
An entertainer is a person whose work is to amuse or delight an audience — most commonly a performer such as a singer, comedian, actor, magician, or dancer, whether on stage, screen, radio, or at live events like parties and cruises. The word can also be used more loosely for anyone with a gift for keeping others amused, as when a charming host is called 'a born entertainer.' The term carries a broadly positive connotation, implying skill, charisma, and the ability to hold people's attention, though in some contexts it can suggest lightness or superficiality relative to 'artist.' It derives from the verb 'entertain,' which comes from Old French entretenir, meaning to hold or maintain, later shifting to mean to occupy someone's attention agreeably. Versatile and widely understood, 'entertainer' is essential vocabulary for discussing performance, media, and social life alike.
A person who performs professionally to amuse an audience, such as a singer, comedian, actor, or magician.
"The club booked a well-known entertainer for its anniversary night."
Often used of performers in variety, cabaret, or live-audience settings rather than purely dramatic actors.
A person who amuses or provides enjoyable company for others, especially socially.
"Every dinner party he hosts turns into a show — he's a natural entertainer."
Standard regular plural; used when referring to multiple performing artists or amusing individuals.
"Street entertainers gathered along the promenade during the festival."
From medieval courts to stadium tours, the entertainer has always held one job: to make strangers forget their troubles — and the word itself literally means 'one who holds you between things.'
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of entertainer
Entertainer comes from the verb 'entertain,' which English borrowed from Old French entretenir, formed from Latin roots inter- ('between, among') and tenere ('to hold'). The original sense was to keep up or maintain something; by the sixteenth century it had developed the sense of occupying or holding someone's attention, and from that grew the modern meaning of providing amusement. Related words sharing the Latin tenere root include maintain, obtain, and detain.
Related word forms
How entertainer is actually used
The word is neutral to positive in tone and common in both everyday speech and journalism. In the second sense ('someone amusing in company'), it often appears with modifiers like 'born' or 'great.' The plural is straightforward: entertainers.
Easily confused with entertainer
An entertainer is the person who performs, while entertainment is the show, activity, or diversion itself.