festivity

[fe-stiv-i-tee]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR festivity ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural fes·tiv·i·ties.

a festive celebration or occasion.

festivities, festive events or activities: the festivities of Christmas.

festive character or quality; gaiety; merriment.

Origin of festivity

1350–1400; Middle English festivite (< Old French) < Latin fēstīvitās. See festive, -ity

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

Related Words for festivity

festival, hoopla, bash, gaiety, joviality, sport, levity, happiness, carousal, jamboree, merrymaking, amusement, party, hilarity, do, blowout, pleasure, merriment, conviviality, revel

Examples from the Web for festivity

Contemporary Examples of festivity

Those of you who tuned in to the festivity in Sochi likely still have a few questions that remained unanswered.
The Olympics Are Already Two Days Old. This Is Your Test.
Kevin Bleyer
February 9, 2014

Historical Examples of festivity

And thus evaporates the last vestige of the dragoon's Christmas festivity.
Camps, Quarters and Casual Places
Archibald Forbes
He had expected some sort of festivity after the performance, but there was none.
The Foolish Lovers
St. John G. Ervine
Like Rose, he had died suddenly, a year later, on a day of festivity.
Fruitfulness
Emile Zola
They come upon us like some dire disaster in a time of festivity.
Barrington
Charles James Lever
He was, as a matter of fact, just returning from a night of festivity at the Nobility Club.
The Genius
Margaret Horton Potter

British Dictionary definitions for festivity

festivity

noun plural -ties

merriment characteristic of a festival, party, etc

any festival or other celebration

(plural) festive proceedings; celebrations

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 festivity

late 14c., from Old French festivité, from Latin festivitatem (nominative festivitas) "good fellowship, generosity," from festivus "festive," from festum "festival or holiday," neuter of festus "of a feast" (see feast). Related: Festivities.