entertainer

/ˌˈɛntərˌˈteɪnər/
/ɛntəˈteɪnə/
IPA guide

Other forms: entertainers

An entertainer is a person whose job or goal is to perform for the amusement of others. If you're an entertainer, you might learn how to tap dance and take singing lessons.

If you make your living as a comedian, you're an entertainer. You're also an entertainer if you're a dancer, singer, actor, or puppeteer. In all of these cases, your job is to entertain an audience. You can also call the member of your family who's always trying to make everyone laugh an entertainer. The word comes from the verb entertain, which originally meant "to keep up or maintain," and came to also mean "amuse" in the early 17th century.

Definitions of entertainer
  1. noun
    a person who tries to please or amuse
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    types:
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    bombshell
    an entertainer who has a sensational effect
    busker
    a person who entertains people for money in public places (as by singing or dancing), usually while asking for money
    attracter, attraction, attractor, draw, drawing card
    an entertainer who attracts large audiences
    farceur, humorist, humourist
    someone who acts, speaks, or writes in an amusing way
    emcee, host, master of ceremonies
    a person who acts as host at formal occasions (makes an introductory speech and introduces other speakers)
    performer, performing artist
    an entertainer who performs a dramatic or musical work for an audience
    pleaser
    a pleasing entertainer
    actor, histrion, player, role player, thespian
    a theatrical performer
    artiste
    a public performer (a dancer or singer)
    baton twirler, twirler
    someone who twirls a baton
    comedian, comic
    a professional performer who tells jokes and performs comical acts
    compere
    British term for someone who introduces television acts or cabarets etc
    cowboy, rodeo rider
    a performer who gives exhibitions of riding and roping and bulldogging
    dancer, professional dancer, terpsichorean
    a performer who dances professionally
    executant
    a performer (usually of musical works)
    fire-eater, fire-swallower
    a performer who pretends to swallow fire
    fire walker
    someone who walks barefoot on burning coals
    geek
    a carnival performer who does disgusting acts
    headliner, star
    a performer who receives prominent billing
    juggler
    a performer who juggles objects and performs tricks of manual dexterity
    Lord of Misrule
    a person appointed master of revels at a Christmas celebration
    conjurer, conjuror, illusionist, magician, prestidigitator
    someone who performs magic tricks to amuse an audience
    minstrel
    a performer in a minstrel show
    monologist
    an entertainer who performs alone
    instrumentalist, musician, player
    someone who plays a musical instrument (as a profession)
    lampooner, parodist
    mimics literary or musical style for comic effect
    punster
    someone overly fond of making puns
    puppeteer
    one who operates puppets or marionettes
    question master, quizmaster
    the host or chairman of a radio or tv quiz show or panel game
    ringmaster
    the person in charge of performances in a circus ring
    ironist, ridiculer, satirist
    a humorist who uses ridicule and irony and sarcasm
    Savoyard
    a person who performs in the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan
    sightreader
    a performer who reads without preparation or prior acquaintance (as in music)
    snake charmer
    a performer who uses movements and music to control snakes
    second banana, straight man
    a performer who acts as stooge to a comedian
    ecdysiast, exotic dancer, peeler, stripper, striptease, striptease artist
    a performer who provides erotic entertainment by undressing to music
    strongman
    a man who performs feats of strength at a fair or circus
    symposiarch, toastmaster
    the person who proposes toasts and introduces speakers at a banquet
    vaudevillian
    a performer who works in vaudeville
    ventriloquist
    a performer who projects the voice into a wooden dummy
    card, wag, wit
    a witty amusing person who makes jokes
    type of:
    individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul
    a human being
Pronunciation
US
/ˌˈɛntərˌˈteɪnər/
UK
/ɛntəˈteɪnə/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘entertainer'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family

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