lollapalooza

Also lol·la·pa·loo·sa,

[lol-uh-puh-loo-zuh]

noun

Slang.

1. an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.

lollapalooza

/ ˌlɒləpəˈluːzə /

noun

1. slang,  something excellent

Word History and Origins

Origin of lollapalooza¹

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of lollapalooza¹

origin unknown

Example Sentences

Home viewing won’t replace the experience of seeing Woo’s landmark action lollapaloozas in a theater.

From Los Angeles Times

The sharpened debate is sure to be on display at the economic lollapalooza that opens Wednesday in Washington — otherwise known as the annual spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

From New York Times

When To Use

Where does lollapalooza come from?

Lollapalooza is an Americanism dating to the early 1900s (and name of a rock music festival starting in the 1990s). Its spelling has changed over time, so you might encounter such forms as lallapaloosa, lolapaloosa, and lallapalooza, in older written works.Where does it come from? That’s unknown, but it is probably just a whimsical formation—perfect for referring to something extraordinary.Many more amusing Americanisms await in our slideshow "These Wacky Words Originated In The USA."