lollapalooza

American  

[lol-uh-puh-loo-zuh] / ˌlɒl ə pəˈlu zə /

Also lollapaloosa,

noun

Slang.

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

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lollapalooza British  

/ ˌlɒləpəˈluːzə /

noun

1. slang something excellent

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Usage

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."

Etymology

Origin of lollapalooza

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

This riotous lollapalooza, which also took its beginnings from an L.A. remembrance, namely a party in Venice Beach 40 years earlier, opens with the Carl Sandburg line “The past is a bucket of ashes.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2022

At Amazon’s yearly lollapalooza of gadget announcements, the company typically announces literally dozens of new Alexa-connected devices.

From The Verge • Sep. 28, 2021

There’s an opening lollapalooza blowout that Mr. Mendes largely delivers in one long silky take, having clearly studied trends in contemporary art cinema.

From New York Times • Nov. 5, 2015

Raksany agrees that the goal of the climate lollapalooza was to get people hooked on Antarctica and the wonders of exploration.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 30, 2015

The fifth helpful notion is that really big effects, lollapalooza effects, will often come only from large combinations of factors.

From Time • Feb. 23, 2015