extravaganza
Americannoun
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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.
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any lavish or opulent show, event, assemblage, etc..
an extravaganza of new housewares on the twelfth floor.
noun
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an elaborately staged and costumed light entertainment
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any lavish or fanciful display, literary or other composition, etc
Etymology
Origin of extravaganza
1745–55; alteration of Italian ( e ) stravaganza extravagance
Explanation
Halftime at the Super Bowl, the Oscar awards ceremony, or the opera Aida performed at the Baths of Caracalla — each of these is an extravaganza, a big, splashy, extravagant entertainment or celebration. The word extravaganza comes from the Italian word estravaganza (or stravaganza), which was an elaborate literary or musical production. When the word appeared in English in the mid-18th century, English speakers turned the estra- into extra- because after all, an elaborate entertainment could certainly be called something "extra." Aida at the Baths of Caracalla, complete with horses, astonishing costumes, and faux-Egyptian temples — now that's an extravaganza.
Vocabulary lists containing extravaganza
Mardi Gras: Fun
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The Westing Game
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Warrior Girl Unearthed
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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.
Glastonbury is a notable absence this year as the Somerset extravaganza has a fallow year, but festival fans shouldn't worry as there's plenty else on the calendar.
From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026
Three concerts will highlight the Crossover extravaganza — the hip-hop band Cortis on Thursday, rapper Ludacris on Friday and the country, Americana and hip-hop singer Shaboozey on Saturday.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026
This doesn’t have to be an appetizer-to-dessert extravaganza.
From Salon • Feb. 10, 2026
The greatest asset of this North America extravaganza is that the three host nations are so vast that every participating nation can draw a passionate, knowledgeable crowd.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025
The kitchen still reeks of onions from last night’s latke extravaganza, but I’m too happy to care.
From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
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.
