festival
FEHS-tihvl
Festival (noun) means an organised series of events celebrating a particular theme, art form, or occasion. Example: “They spent the weekend at a music festival.”
noun
1
An organised series of events celebrating a particular theme, art form, or occasion.
"They spent the weekend at a music festival."
"The town's harvest festival dates back over a century."
"The village hosts a film festival every autumn, with talks by local directors."
2
A day or period of religious or cultural celebration.
"Diwali is one of the most important festivals in Hindu culture."
"Families gather for the festival of lights, lighting lamps and sharing sweets with neighbours."
"Eid is a joyful festival that many Muslim communities mark with prayer and a shared meal."
How to use festival
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA planned celebration or series of events, whether cultural, religious, or artistic.
Common pairings
music festival
film festival
religious festival
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Word forms
- Plural
- festivals
- Comparative
- more festival
- Superlative
- most festival
Fill the gap
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They spent the weekend at a music _____.
Etymology
From Old French festival, "festive," from Latin festivus, ultimately from festum, "feast."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for festival
See all rhymes for festival →Frequently asked questions
What does “festival” mean?
The word “festival” means an organised series of events celebrating a particular theme, art form, or occasion. In plain terms, a planned celebration or series of events, whether cultural, religious, or artistic.
How do you pronounce “festival”?
“Festival” is pronounced FEHS-tihvl (/ˈfɛstəv(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “festival” in a sentence?
Here is “festival” used in a sentence: “They spent the weekend at a music festival.”
What part of speech is “festival”?
“Festival” is a noun.
Where does the word “festival” come from?
The word “festival” comes from Latin. From Old French festival, "festive," from Latin festivus, ultimately from festum, "feast.".
Is “festival” a common word?
“Festival” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “festival” have?
“Festival” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an organised series of events celebrating a particular theme, art form, or occasion.
What are the types of festival?
Festivals come in many forms: music festivals, film festivals, food and drink festivals, arts festivals, and religious or cultural celebrations such as Diwali or Christmas. Some last a single day, others run for weeks. What they share is a planned series of events built around one theme or occasion.
What is the difference between a festival and a carnival?
A festival is a broad term for an organised series of events celebrating a theme or occasion. A carnival is one particular kind, usually a lively public celebration with parades, costumes, music, and street processions. So every carnival is a festival, but many festivals — a quiet film festival, for example — are not carnivals.
What is an example of a festival?
Famous examples include the Glastonbury and Coachella music festivals, the Cannes Film Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe arts festival, and cultural celebrations like Diwali, Holi, or Oktoberfest. Each gathers people around a shared theme — music, film, art, faith, or food — through a planned programme of events.
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