advert
advert Lexical Profile
advert Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British A public notice or announcement promoting a product, service, event, or job vacancy; an advertisement.
"She placed an advert in the local newspaper to sell her vintage bicycle."
• verb
To refer to or direct attention toward something in speech or writing (usually followed by 'to').
"During his closing argument, the attorney briefly adverted to several inconsistencies in the witness's testimony."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a noun meaning 'advertisement' (pronounced AD-vert), this word is standard in British and Commonwealth English, whereas North American speakers use 'ad'. As a formal verb meaning 'to refer to' (pronounced ad-VERT), it is invariably followed by the preposition 'to' and should not be confused with 'avert' (to turn away).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The formal verb derives from Late Middle English via Old French and Latin 'advertere', meaning 'to turn toward' (from 'ad-', toward, and 'vertere', to turn). The informal noun arose in the mid-19th century as a clipped shortening of 'advertisement'.