festival
Americannoun
-
festivals
plural
-
a day or time of religious or other celebration, marked by feasting, ceremonies, or other observances.
the festival of Christmas; a Roman festival.
-
a periodic commemoration, anniversary, or celebration.
an annual strawberry festival.
-
a period or program of festive activities, cultural events, or entertainment.
a music festival.
-
gaiety; revelry; merrymaking.
adjective
noun
-
a day or period set aside for celebration or feasting, esp one of religious significance
-
any occasion for celebration, esp one which commemorates an anniversary or other significant event
-
an organized series of special events and performances, usually in one place
a festival of drama
-
archaic a time of revelry; merrymaking
-
(modifier) relating to or characteristic of a festival
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of festival
1300–50; Middle English < Medieval Latin fēstivālis ( diēs ) holy (day). See festive, -al 1
Explanation
A festival might be an all-day series of music performances or a weekend of short plays or films. Any program made up of many different acts, especially lasting an entire day or several days, can be called a festival. Another meaning of the word festival is "big party," again most often a celebration that lasts for a long period of time. Some festivals are religious, and others are seasonal or cultural, like a city's Italian Heritage Festival. Some famous festivals include the Fringe Festival in Scotland, Carnivale in Brazil, Oktoberfest in Germany and Burning Man in the United States. You could travel the world as a festival hopper.
Vocabulary lists containing festival
It's Lit: Hanukkah Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Party Parlance for Mardi Gras
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Aztec, Maya, and Inca Empires - Introductory
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
She hit the comedy festival scene in 2024 as a standout comic at the Bergamot Comedy Fest at the Crow, which is known for discovering up-and-coming talent.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026
Since its collapse, local businesses and charities have created a not-for-profit group - Manchester Village Pride - with the aim of organising a much cheaper festival more rooted in the community.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
Within a year and a half, Ullom’s tiny indie film went from its festival debut to a wide theatrical release, backed by the company behind some of cinema’s most awarded and talked-about films.
From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026
Since then, the Goldenvoice festival focused on early aughts indie rock has become a staple, popping up annually at Brookside at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
I was at home braiding the bristles on my whisk broom when the museum called, inviting me to participate in their new "Month of Sundays" performance-art festival.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
Dollywood, the theme park founded by country music legend Dolly Parton, opened in Tennessee in 1986 and boasts roller coasters, seasonal festivals and old-time displays of rural and small-town American life.
From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026
Gabi Bradbury, who has been sober for three years, described much the same life: bars, concerts, festivals and nights out with friends, only without alcohol in her glass.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
Music festivals including Bonnaroo, Riot Fest and the Electric Daisy Carnival are now selling wedding packages.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
“We’ve had huge crowds at festivals, even the workers on stage are like, ‘No way, you filled more venues than yesterday’s headliner,’” Cabrera told The Times.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
The one thing I did like about small-town festivals was the food.
From "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley
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.
