Etymologically
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This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 03:53. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ədˈvɜːtɪsmənt/, /ˈædvəˌtaɪzmənt/ (UK); /ˈædvɚˌtaɪzmənt/, /ˌædvɚˈtaɪzmənt/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English advertisement, borrowed from Middle French avertissement, often spelled advertissement from the late 14th to the 16th century after Latin,[2][3][4] with avertisement and advertissement in Anglo-Norman;[5] the OED also sees some influence of Italian avvertimento.[2] It comes from the stem of avertir (“to notify, warn”),[5][3][6] from Latin advertō (“to turn toward”).[2][3] French went back to avertissement, but English kept the Latinized spelling.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

An informing or notification: 1426, in the proceedings of the Privy Council.[2] A written statement drawing attention to something, especially a notice to readers in a book, is from 1447.[2]

Semantic evolution

Early senses included a warning or admonition (about 1475 to 1827) and attention or heed (about 1487 to 1691).[2][4] Public notification is from 1600, in Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing,[2] and a public notice, now especially one promoting goods or services, from 1692;[2] Etymonline dates the paid notice in a newspaper to the 1580s.[3] A person or thing that recommends something, as in a poor advertisement for, is from 1868.[2]

Timeline

  • 1426 – notification, information.[2]
  • 1447 – a written notice, as a preface in a book.[2]
  • c. 1475 – a warning (obsolete).[2]
  • 1600 – public notification.[2]
  • 1692 – a public announcement, later of goods or services.[2]
  • 1868 – a person or thing that promotes something.[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A public notice, in print, on screen or online, that promotes a product, service or event.
  2. The act of advertising; publicity.
  3. Someone or something seen as showing the merits or faults of something: a good advertisement for the school.

Word family

  • preadvertisement
  • ad
  • advert
  • self-advertisement
  • advertorial
  • classified advertisement
  • advertising
  • advertise
  • avert

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Oxford English Dictionary Online (accessed March 2026), Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.