gala

[gey-luh, gal-uh, gah-luh]

adjective

1. festive; festal; showy.

   Her birthday parties were always gala occasions.

noun

1. a festive occasion; celebration; special entertainment.

   a gala featuring opera stars in their most famous scenes.

2. festal pomp or dress.

gala

/ ˈɡɑːlə, ˈɡeɪlə /

noun

1. 1. a celebration; festive occasion

   2. ( as modifier )

      a gala occasion

2. a sporting occasion involving competitions in several events

   a swimming gala

Word History and Origins

Origin of gala¹

1615–25; < French < Italian < Old French; gallant

Word History and Origins

Origin of gala¹

C17: from French or Italian, from Old French gale pleasure, from Old French galer to make merry, probably of Germanic origin; compare _gallant

Example Sentences

I once bolted from a family gala, getting a taxi to the station to make the late train back from Boston, arriving at 3 a.m. just so I could sleep in my own bed.

Read more on Salon

The budding friendship will be tested by a high-stakes heist, carried out during the city's centennial gala by a snake, a species long banned from the city.

Read more on Barron's

At the Tuesday night gala, the president’s favorite tenor, Christopher Macchio, serenaded business executives.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The crown prince's visit to Washington continues with a gala dinner on Tuesday night, followed by an investment summit on Wednesday.

Read more on BBC

Lewis, chief marketing officer of nonprofit StoryCorps, was in town for a work gala and eager to get home to her 3-year-old daughter.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bash 
• celebration 
• dance 
• festivity 
• fiesta 
• function 
• jamboree 
• pageant 
• prom 
• shindig