extravaganza

[ik-strav-uh-gan-zuh]

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noun

a musical or dramatic composition or production, as comic opera or musical comedy, marked by a loose structure, a frivolous theme, and elaborate costuming and staging.

any lavish or opulent show, event, assemblage, etc.: an extravaganza of new housewares on the twelfth floor.

Origin of extravaganza

1745–55; alteration of Italian (e)stravaganza extravagance

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for extravaganza

pageant, spectacular, caricature, parody, display, show, divertissement

Examples from the Web for extravaganza

Contemporary Examples of extravaganza

He kicked off his stateside appearances with the Arabian Nights Extravaganza XXVII at the Paris Grand Ballroom in Las Vegas.
Gaza to Jersey: A Star is Born
Maysoon Zayid
November 25, 2013
The three-day extravaganza, which kicked off Thursday morning, has no power to pass laws or set agendas.
CPAC Defiant in Obama Era
Howard Kurtz
March 14, 2013
Other than the man accepting the nomination, he will be the unquestioned star of the extravaganza.
Clinton Seizing Spotlight, Again
Howard Kurtz
July 30, 2012
And this two-minute extravaganza is expresses exactly how Pawlenty would like to be seen.
Tim Pawlenty's Obstacle Course
John Avlon
March 23, 2011

Historical Examples of extravaganza

These stories, in their grotesque severities, have almost the air of an extravaganza.
Admiral Farragut
A. T. Mahan
That extravaganza, as she is called, is fatal, dogs him with burlesque—of all men!'
The Amazing Marriage, Complete
George Meredith
They all laughed at Jack's extravaganza, which is of a kind to which they are beginning to be accustomed.
Stories of Invention
Edward E. Hale
When they walked to her house together she spoke most appreciatively of the extravaganza.
The Barrier
Allen French
It was like the waving of the magic wand in an extravaganza.
Pirates' Hope
Francis Lynde

British Dictionary definitions for extravaganza

extravaganza

noun

an elaborately staged and costumed light entertainment

any lavish or fanciful display, literary or other composition, etc

Word Origin for extravaganza

C18: from Italian: extravagance

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

Word Origin and History for extravaganza

1754, with reference to peculiar behavior, 1794 of a fantastic type of performance or writing, from Italian extravaganza, literally "an extravagance," from estravagante, from Medieval Latin extravagantem (see extravagant).