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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 • Mar. 26, 2026

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 • Mar. 26, 2026

The news came at Taco Bell’s Live Más Live gala March 10, during which the company introduced more than 20 new menu items — though the under-eye patches are the only non-edibles being rolled out.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

"Did you think Aunt Gladys would end up here at the Oscars?" she told Variety before the gala.

From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026

The plan was to get the site cleared before bringing in the VIPs and the media for the official gala groundbreaking ceremony.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

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.