Amusement

Amusement is the experience of finding something entertaining or funny, and can also refer to activities and venues designed to entertain. It includes the subjective feeling of mild pleasure, laughter, or delight as well as external sources such as jokes, stories, games, performances, films, and leisure attractions. Amusement can arise from humor, play, novelty, and spectacle, and is often a social experience in group settings.

The term stems from the verb amuser, meaning to divert or entertain, with the noun form appearing in early modern English.

Types and sources include live performances, cinema, literature, video games, sports, and attractions like amusement parks, fairs, and circuses. Amusements may be short-lived, such as a witty remark, or longer-lasting, such as a beloved book or game that consistently engages a person.

Historical note: As societies reduced labor time and increased disposable income, systematic amusements—philosophically, economically, and culturally—grew into wide-ranging entertainment industries. In psychology, amusement is linked to positive affect and social bonding, and can serve to regulate mood and reduce stress.

See also: Amusement park, Humor, Entertainment.