Advert

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈædvɜːt/

Definitions

1. A brief announcement or notice promoting a product, service, or event
2. A concise promotional message designed to inform or attract attention to something
3. A short public communication aimed at encouraging people to buy or use a particular item or service

Etymology: "Advert" is a clipping of "advertisement," the shortened form most people now use for a paid promotional notice in print, on television, or online. The fuller word reaches English through Old French "advertir," meaning "to notice," which itself comes from Latin "advertere," "to turn toward." That Latin verb is built from "ad-" ("toward") and "vertere" ("to turn"), so the original idea is of turning one's attention toward something. The noun "advertisement" appeared in Middle English as "advertisement," meaning a notice or piece of information brought to someone's attention, and only later narrowed to the commercial sense. The shorter form "advert" is a clipping of that noun, which is why the two words are so closely tied.

Synonyms: advertisement, ad