advertisement
UK /ədˈvɜː.tɪs.mənt/ US /ˌæd.vɚˈtaɪz.mənt/ Syllables: ad-ver-tise-ment
Quick answer
A public notice or announcement, usually paid for, that promotes a product or service.
An advertisement is a public message that tells people about a product, a service or an event and tries to make them want it. You see advertisements on television, on websites, on buses and in magazines. Many are paid for by a company. A small advertisement in a newspaper might offer a flat to rent or ask for a job. People often shorten the word to ad. An advertisement can be funny, clever or annoying, and a good one is easy to remember.
"There was an advertisement for the new phone on every bus stop."Meanings
- A public notice, usually paid for, that promotes a product or service.
- A short message in a newspaper or on a website that offers or asks for something.
Example sentences
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"There was an advertisement for the new phone on every bus stop."
Level A2, Meaning 1
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"I saw an advertisement for a flat near the park."
Level A2, Meaning 2
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"The advertisement made me hungry for pizza."
Level A2, Meaning 1
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"She answered a job advertisement in the local paper."
Level B1, Meaning 2
Synonyms and antonyms
Synonyms
Look-alikes and common mistakes
- announcement : An announcement gives news. An advertisement tries to sell or promote something.
- commercial : A commercial is an advertisement on radio or television. Advertisement is the wider word.
Word family and forms
Forms: advertisements
Word partners
Words and phrases that often go with "advertisement".
- a television advertisement
- place an advertisement
- a job advertisement
- an advertisement for
- a newspaper advertisement
- a small advertisement
Origin
Advertisement came into English in the 1400s from Middle French advertissement, which meant a statement that calls attention, and is close to the French word avertissement, a warning. It is built from the verb advertise plus the ending -ment, which makes a noun.
Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.
How to remember it
Advertisement is advertise plus ment. Say advertise, then add ment, and you have the thing that is advertised.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "There was an _____ for the new phone on every bus stop."
Answer: advertisement
In your own words, what does "advertisement" mean?
A public notice or announcement, usually paid for, that promotes a product or service.
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Sources and credits
- Wiktionary, the free dictionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) · used for the origin · checked Oct 19, 2026
- Dictionary.com · used for the origin · checked Oct 19, 2026
Last reviewed October 20, 2026. Report a mistake on this page