infomercial
UK[ˌɪnfəʊˈmɜːʃl]US[ˌɪnfoʊˈmɜːrʃl]
n
A television programme that is made in the style of a normal programme but is intended to advertise a product.
Morpheme Breakdown
info
mercial
info
mercial
Etymology
The word 'infomercial' is a modern portmanteau, a blend of the clipped forms 'info-' (from 'information') and '-mercial' (from 'commercial'). It was coined in the late 20th century to describe a new genre of extended television advertisement designed to mimic the format and informative tone of a regular programme. The logic is transparent: it combines the promise of providing product 'information' with the underlying purpose of a 'commercial' transaction. This hybrid term perfectly captures the dual, and sometimes ambiguous, nature of this advertising medium.
Analysis
Structure: info + mercial
- info: (Origin: Latin, via English clipping of 'information') Functional role: Root, conveying the concept of information or facts.
- mercial: (Origin: Latin, via English clipping of 'commercial') Functional role: Root, conveying the concept of commerce or advertising.
Examples
The late-night schedule was filled with infomercials for kitchen gadgets and fitness equipment.
The company produced a 30-minute infomercial demonstrating the features of their new cleaning product.
Critics argue that some infomercials blur the line between entertainment and direct sales.