Other forms: advertisements
An advertisement is the short message that tries to sell you something. On a page, a screen, a bus or a hoarding.
English shortens it constantly, to advert in Britain and ad almost everywhere, and a television one is a commercial. The stress falls differently on the two sides of the Atlantic, which makes it one of the most noticeable pronunciation splits in the language. There is a second sense meaning a demonstration, so saying that somebody is a poor advertisement for their profession means they make it look bad.
1nounadvertisementA public notice or message promoting a product or service.
“There was an advertisement for the job in the paper.”
2noundemonstratesSomething that demonstrates a quality, well or badly.
“His behaviour was a poor advertisement for the club.”
Also accepted in games: ad, advert, commercial
Middle French
advertissement
English, today
advertisement
Borrowed from Middle French advertissement. From Middle French advertissement (“statement calling attention”), compare French avertissement (“warning”). See advertise. Equivalent to advertise + ment.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA