Definition of FESTIVAL

festival

Plural: festivals

Noun

  • a day or period of time set aside for feasting and celebration
  • an organized series of acts and performances (usually in one place)
    • "a drama festival"
  • A feast or feast day.
  • An event or series of special events centred on the celebration or promotion of some theme or aspect of the community, often held at regular intervals.
  • In mythology, a set of celebrations in the honour of a god.
  • Fried cornbread.

Adj

  • Pertaining to a feast or feast day; festive. (Now only as the noun used attributively.)

Examples

  • "A Welsh eisteddfod is a literary festival."
  • "The Reading and Leeds festivals take place on the August bank holiday."

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English festival (adjective), from Old French festival (“festive”), from Late Latin fēstīvālis, from Latin fēstīvus (“festive”). Displaced native Old English frēols. The noun is shortened from festival day, from Middle English festival dai, festiuall day (“feast day, festival”).

Synonyms

fete

Scrabble Score: 14

festival is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
festival is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
festival is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 16

festival is a valid Words With Friends word