shindig

American  

[shin-dig] / ˈʃɪnˌdɪg /

noun

Informal.

shindigs plural

1. an elaborate or large dance, party, or other celebration.

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shindig British  

/ ˈʃɪnˌdɪɡ /

noun

1. a noisy party, dance, etc

2. another word for shindy

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Usage

What does shindig mean? Shindig is a fun word for a party or gathering, especially a noisy and lively one. Shindig is very informal, and it often refers to informal gatherings, especially big, rowdy ones with dancing, but it can be used to refer to any type of party or big celebration. The word has an old-timey or rustic, country feel to it (though not as rustic as hootenanny or hoedown), so it is often used to be a bit silly or just as a more fun way to say party. Example: Big Earl’s having one of his usual shindigs this weekend, with his buddy’s band playing in the field out back.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• shindigs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of shindig

1855–60, shin ¹ + dig ¹; compare slang shinscraper dance, shinny ² ( def. )

Explanation

A shindig is a party, usually one that's big, loud, and noisy. People throw shindigs to celebrate. This is a word for parties, especially parties that are wild and crazy. Shindigs — which are similar to hoedowns — usually involve dancing and music. A big birthday party is a shindig. A massive holiday party is a shindig. At a shindig, you'll find drinking, eating, games, and other forms of fun. If only three people show up to a party, that's not going to be much of a shindig. At a shindig, people are really whooping it up.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shindig shindigs

Watching the speeches from this fireworks-laden shindig, Wiltz’s observation felt like an understatement.

From Salon ● Jan. 7, 2026

Make sure to buy or rent a Halloween costume and come on down for a seasonal shindig you won’t soon forget.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2025

Read all about that and three more of our columnist Amy Kaufman’s most memorable celebrity encounters at the annual shindig for the Hollywood elite.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2024

"Jonny put on a great shindig," Mott says.

From BBC ● May 23, 2024

He says tell you that as this is your shindig you ought at least to pay the piper.

From The Melting of Molly by Crosby, Raymond Moreau

But the absence of the leading lady didn’t dampen the nation’s party atmosphere, with millions turning out for patriotic street shindigs, barbecues and picnics in their cities and villages.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 5, 2022

Twelve detectives and half a million pounds later, we know the police looked into 12 shindigs, 345 documents and more than 500 photographs.

From BBC ● May 19, 2022

Andrew Bridgen, a conservative MP and former Johnson ally, said it’s not important if he was at any workplace shindigs or not.

From Slate ● Jan. 27, 2022

Leases come with signed commitments to community values, and instead of simply showing up for scheduled events, residents are encouraged to create their own classes and shindigs for the rest of the building.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2020

Like I said, we meet the best people through the Templetons, who have divine shindigs.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• gala