carnival

American  

[kahr-nuh-vuhl] / ˈkɑr nə vəl /

noun

1. a traveling amusement show, having sideshows, rides, etc.

2. any merrymaking, revelry, or festival, as a program of sports or entertainment.

   a winter carnival.

   Synonyms:

   holiday, fete, celebration, fair

3. the season immediately preceding Lent, often observed with merrymaking; Shrovetide.

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carnival British  

/ ˈkɑːnɪvəl /

noun

1. 1. a festive occasion or period marked by merrymaking, processions, etc: esp in some Roman Catholic countries, the period just before Lent

   2. ( as modifier )

      a carnival atmosphere

2. a travelling fair having merry-go-rounds, etc

3. a show or display arranged as an amusement

4. a sports meeting

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Usage

What is Carnival? Carnival, with a capital C, refers to the multiple-day period of merrymaking before the start of Lent. It is especially associated with the massive street festival held annually in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which is famous for its big parades, ornate costumes, and samba dancing.Carnival is also celebrated in many other countries, especially those with large Catholic populations, including Italy, Spain, France, and Germany (where it is called Fasching).The equivalent pre-Lent celebration in the U.S. (especially New Orleans) and some other places is known as Mardi Gras.In religious contexts, the three-day period before Lent is known as Shrovetide. Carnival is part of a tradition of indulging before the Lenten fast, but it is not a Christian holiday.Carnival is also sometimes spelled Carnaval.

Other Word Forms

• carnivalesque adjective
• carnivallike adjective
• precarnival adjective

Etymology

Origin of carnival

1540–50; < Italian carnevale, Old Italian carnelevare taking meat away, equivalent to carne flesh (< Latin carnem, accusative of caro ) + levare < Latin levāre to lift

Compare meaning

How does carnival compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• carnival vs. Mardi Gras

Example Sentences

Some of his earlier memories are of dancing at family birthday parties or big public carnival events where the country’s top orchestras would play.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

Inside the exhibit hall, there was a carnival game where contestants could see who could shoot the most water at a target.

From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026

"It's not the first carnival fight on Netflix," 5 Live Boxing expert Bunce told 5 Live Breakfast.

From BBC • Feb. 24, 2026

The director typically makes it into a carnival ride, a whirling montage that turns smoke-choked ’70s Vegas into heaven.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

Every carnival since 1893 has included a Midway and a Ferris Wheel, and every grocery store contains products born at the exposition.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson