banquet

American  

[bang-kwit] / ˈbæŋ kwɪt /

noun

1. a lavish meal; feast.

2. a ceremonious public dinner, especially one honoring a person, benefiting a charity, etc.

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verb (used with object)

banqueted, banqueting

1. to entertain or regale with a banquet.

   They banqueted the visiting prime minister in grand style.

verb (used without object)

banqueted, banqueting

1. to have or attend a banquet; feast.

   They banqueted on pheasant, wild boar, and three kinds of fish.

banquet British  

/ ˈbæŋkwɪt /

noun

1. a lavish and sumptuous meal; feast

2. a ceremonial meal for many people, often followed by speeches

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verb

1. (intr) to hold or take part in a banquet

2. (tr) to entertain or honour (a person) with a banquet

Usage

What does banquet mean? A banquet is a feast, as in Theo likes to host banquets so he can cook all his favorite foods for others. A banquet is also a public dinner, often very fancy and benefiting a charity or celebrating a person, as in Mac likes to organize the sports banquet at the end of the year for all the school’s teams. A banquet is basically a feast for a lot of people. It’s a large, sumptuous meal during a ceremonious gathering. Banquets can be arranged to benefit a charity or to celebrate a specific person or group of people. To banquet means to entertain with a banquet or to have a banquet. You’ll often hear the phrase banqueting hall, which is a room, especially in large medieval buildings, that is big enough to hold a banquet. Example: Doreen hosted a banquet to raise money for a children’s charity.

Related Words

See feast.

Other Word Forms

• banqueteer
  noun
• banqueter
  noun

Etymology

Origin of banquet

First recorded in 1450–1500; from Middle French, from Italian banchetto ( banc(o) “table” ( see bank ²) + -etto -et ); replacing late Middle English bankat, banket(te), from Middle French

Explanation

It’s customary to celebrate Thanksgiving with a banquet, or elaborate feast — along with the requisite bickering between family members. If you sat down to a banquet in the earliest sense of this word, you’d surely be disappointed. Banquet comes from a French word meaning "bench," and originally a banquet was a small snack — something you could eat while sitting on a bench. If a particular family member isn’t cooperating at your next holiday meal, consider having him dine in this traditional fashion, on a bench somewhere far from the dining room table.

Example Sentences

But speaking at the annual Lady Mayor's Banquet on Monday, Starmer said China "poses real national security threats", and said London would continue to raise human rights issues with Beijing.

From Barron's • Dec. 2, 2025

There has also been much discussion between the Palace and Foreign Office over who sits where at the State Banquet in St George's Hall.

From BBC • Sep. 15, 2025

They first tried to host the rally at the Pacific Hills Banquet & Event Center in Laguna Hills, but the venue opted to cancel after receiving a flurry of calls and emails about the event.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2024

The president addressed the matter later during a stop at Brookland Baptist Banquet Center in West Columbia, S.C.

From New York Times • Jan. 28, 2024

I soak in the Grand Banquet Hall: candelabras and centerpieces dripping with white and gold, animated ceiling frescoes of the royal family's bloodline, roses opening and closing to release their scents.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

Related Words

• feast
• festivity
• meal
• reception