banquet

[bang-kwit]

noun

1. a lavish meal; feast.

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

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

/ ˈbæŋkwɪt /

noun

1. a lavish and sumptuous meal; feast

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

verb

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

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

Other Word Forms

• banqueter noun
• banqueteer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of banquet¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of banquet¹

C15: from Old French, from Italian banchetto , from banco a table, of Germanic origin; see _bank ¹

Synonym Study

See feast.

Example Sentences

The president seemed to enjoy his lavish royal reception in the UK, not least the glittering state banquet held in his honour.

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According to his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, his definitive highlight of the trip was the elaborate evening banquet for 160 guests in Windsor Castle's St George's Hall that evening.

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It is still unclear when the invitation to the banquet was received or when Wednesday night's engagement with MSs was arranged.

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The state banquet is the spectacular showstopper of a state visit, a glittering feast with speeches, royal toasts, trumpet fanfares and fancy food and wine.

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Morgan is not the only high profile party leader to turn down an invite to the banquet.

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Related Words

• feast 
• festivity 
• meal 
• reception 

When To Use

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.