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gala

American  
[gey-luh, gal-uh, gah-luh] / ˈgeɪ lə, ˈgæl ə, ˈgɑ lə /

adjective

  1. festive; festal; showy.

    Her birthday parties were always gala occasions.

noun

  1. a festive occasion; celebration; special entertainment.

    a gala featuring opera stars in their most famous scenes.

  2. festal pomp or dress.

gala British  
/ ˈɡɑːlə, ˈɡeɪlə /

noun

    1. a celebration; festive occasion

    2. ( as modifier )

      a gala occasion

  2. a sporting occasion involving competitions in several events

    a swimming gala
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of gala

1615–25; < French < Italian < Old French; gallant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Mark Twain Prize will be given to Maher at a gala set for June 28, with Netflix streaming the event at a later date, yet to be determined.

From Los Angeles Times

The Oscars will leave Hollywood after celebrating their centenary, organizers said Thursday, as they announced a long-term deal to hold the gala in central Los Angeles.

From Barron's

On Friday, he strode into the Mar-a-Lago ballroom to cheers of “U.S.A.” from local Republicans gathered for a $1,200 per-person fundraising gala.

From The Wall Street Journal

Disney-owned ABC had widely promoted the 22nd season of the show, in which 22 men compete for a relationship with a single woman, including trailing it during Sunday night's Oscars gala.

From Barron's

Around 17.9 million people saw political thriller "One Battle After Another," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, take home the top prize at Hollywood's premier awards gala on Sunday.

From Barron's

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.