festoon
Americannoun
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a string or chain of flowers, foliage, ribbon, etc., suspended in a curve between two points.
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a decorative representation of this, as in architectural work or on pottery.
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a fabric suspended, draped, and bound at intervals to form graceful loops or scalloped folds.
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Dentistry. the garlandlike area of the gums surrounding the necks of the teeth.
verb (used with object)
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festoons,
present (3rd person singular)
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festooned,
past participle, past
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festooning
present participle
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to adorn with or as with festoons.
to festoon a hall.
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to form into festoons.
to festoon flowers and leaves.
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Dentistry. to reproduce natural gum patterns around the teeth or a denture.
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to connect by festoons.
noun
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a decorative chain of flowers, ribbons, etc, suspended in loops; garland
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a carved or painted representation of this, as in architecture, furniture, or pottery
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the scalloped appearance of the gums where they meet the teeth
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a design carved on the base material of a denture to simulate this
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-
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either of two Zerynthia species of white pierid butterfly of southern Europe, typically mottled red, yellow, and brown
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an ochreous brown moth, Apoda avellana the unusual sluglike larvae of which feed on oak leaves
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verb
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to decorate or join together with festoons
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to form into festoons
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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festoonsimple
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festoonssimple
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have festoonedperfect
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has festoonedperfect
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am festooningprogressive
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are festooningprogressive
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is festooningprogressive
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have been festooningperfect progressive
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has been festooningperfect progressive
Past
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festoonedsimple
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had festoonedperfect
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was festooningprogressive
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were festooningprogressive
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had been festooningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of festoon
1670–80; < French feston < Italian festone decoration for a feast, derivative of festa festa
Explanation
A festoon is a decorative string of flowers that you drape across a room, dropping in curves between support points. If you're decorating for Halloween, why not try a creatively spooky festoon of dried roses covered in cobwebs? Festoon probably comes from the Italian word festone, for "feast," and if you can imagine an Italian courtyard strung up with flowers and lanterns, then you have a sense of what it means to festoon a place. A noun or a verb, festoon can mean the decoration itself, or the work of putting it up. Festoons don't strictly have to be made of flowers, though they usually are. You can festoon with fabric too, or paper chains. Or cobwebs.
Vocabulary lists containing festoon
The Fault in Our Stars
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Mardi Gras: Fun
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A Long Way Gone
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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.
See Examples For:
Scallops and cross-hatches festoon part of the home’s cladding.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026
This spring, billions of cicadas across the eastern half of the U.S. will emerge from their multiyear slumber to festoon the trees and sing their loud songs.
From Slate ● Apr. 14, 2024
Filaments of dust and gas festoon this star-forming region in a new infrared image from MIRI.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2023
And by plant, I mean play, adorn and festoon the landscape with seasonal compositions that echo colorful detailing on the house.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 27, 2021
Here the breeze was fitful and allowed the strings of the parachute to tangle and festoon; and the figure sat, its helmeted head between its knees, held by a complication of lines.
From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
Since early Thursday, BNP backers started gathering in the capital, plastering the streets with banners and festoons bearing images of Rahman.
From Barron's ● Dec. 25, 2025
In the Quartieri Spagnoli, throughout Naples' historic centre, up to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Fuorigrotta and beyond, the streets are decked with blue and white festoons.
From BBC ● Apr. 6, 2023
As the newlyweds proceed through a valley of thatched roofs, a Moctezuma impersonator festoons himself in palm leaves while acrobats brave the upside-down “palo volador” swing and dancers gyrate in riotous native dress.
From New York Times ● Oct. 27, 2022
AA memorabilia festoons the largest meeting room in Wilson House, a hotel built in the mid-1800s.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 11, 2020
It was made of granite for strength and massiveness, but like so many other things in Iofur’s palace, it was decorated with overelaborate swags and festoons of gilt that looked like tinsel on a mountainside.
From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman
This year, a feud erupted over a proposed parade float festooned with Alberta provincial flags.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
Smith makes treats like Skittles, gummy bears and pasta festooned with marigold petals, narrating each step in a baby-soft voice while wearing dreamy fits.
From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026
In Havana's leafy middle-class Vedado neighborhood, pints at a dollar a pop were flowing at a watch party in a cultural center festooned with a Brazil flag and World Cup bunting.
From Barron's ● Jun. 14, 2026
A block later I hobbled past the Justice Department, its facade festooned with a giant banner of Trump’s face.
From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026
Happy tourists walk away festooned in silver and gold, their new jewelry jingling like Christmas bells with every step.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
Now his great-granddaughter is cultivating seed there, and not just from the Clematis that scramble over shrubs, festooning their branches with colorful little bells and stars and, later, the froth of all those seed heads.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 21, 2024
You could see it reflected in the diverse faces of the audience, the fashions festooning the lobby, the programs listing the all-star, almost all-Black cast.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 28, 2021
Jenny Beavan’s costumes and Fiona Crombie’s production design, festooning posh department stores, bohemian thrift shops and couture palaces, engage the eye even when the characters wander through the city in search of coherent motives.
From New York Times ● May 26, 2021
In two caves, researchers previously documented tens of thousands of bat bones festooning the floors and walls.
From Scientific American ● Aug. 31, 2017
As they approached, they could see tier upon tier of lights festooning the Mile-High Macllwaine.
From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer
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