edutainment

IPA/ˌedʒuˈteɪnmənt/
IPA/ˌedʒuˈteɪnmənt/

edutainment — noun

1. books, TV shows, games, or apps that are designed to teach you something while y

1.nounB2
Definition

books, TV shows, games, or apps that are designed to teach you something while you enjoy using them

Example

Yumi learned about ancient Egypt through an edutainment app on her tablet.

noun used as adjective modifier: edutainment app

The science centre uses edutainment to make physics fun for young visitors.

Common collocations
  • edutainment app
  • edutainment game
  • edutainment programme
  • edutainment series
  • edutainment software
  • interactive edutainment
  • edutainment product
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

edutainment + noun (app/game/programme)

Usage Note

Often placed before another noun to describe the type of product (edutainment app, edutainment series). Usually uncountable — do not add -s for plural.

Common Mistakes

The company sells several new edutainments this year.
The company sells several new edutainment products this year.
'edutainment' is uncountable; use a countable noun like 'products', 'titles', or 'programmes' after it.

Word family

  • edutain
    verb
  • edutainer
    noun
  • edutaining
    adjective

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

"Edutainment" is a broad umbrella term covering any product that blends teaching with entertainment. "Educational software" is narrower — it refers strictly to computer programs and apps, not to TV shows, books, or board games. "Learning games" is narrower still, covering only game-based formats where play is the primary activity and learning is woven in. "Educational entertainment" is the most formal of the four and is typically used to describe the abstract concept rather than a specific product (e.g., "the museum offers educational entertainment"). In everyday use, an app like Duolingo is both edutainment and educational software but not a learning game, whereas a history-themed video game like Assassin's Creed Discovery Tour qualifies as both edutainment and a learning game.

educational softwarelearning gameseducational entertainment

Common collocations

Phrases

  • edutainment app
  • edutainment game
  • edutainment programme
  • edutainment series
  • edutainment software
  • edutainment product

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

A blend of 'education' and 'entertainment', coined in the early 1970s. The term gained popularity in the 1990s with the rise of educational CD-ROMs and children's television programmes designed to teach through fun content.