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noun C2 Proficient

fete

fayt

Fete (noun) means a public festival or fair, often held to raise money for charity. Example: “The village fete had a cake stand and a tombola.”

noun
1
A public festival or fair, often held to raise money for charity.
"The village fete had a cake stand and a tombola."
"Every summer the school holds a fete on the playing field."
verb
1
To honor or celebrate someone with a special occasion.
"The retiring coach was feted at a dinner in his name."

How to use fete

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA festival or celebration, or to celebrate someone publicly.

UK vs US

The noun sense (a small charity fair) is much more common in British English than American English.

Common pairings
village fete feted as a hero

Word forms

feted past tense, fetes plural, fetes singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The village _____ had a cake stand and a tombola.

Etymology

From French fête ("feast, celebration"); a doublet of feast and fiesta.

Origin: French

Related words

Rhymes for fete

See all rhymes for fete →

Frequently asked questions

What does “fete” mean?

The word “fete” means a public festival or fair, often held to raise money for charity. In plain terms, a festival or celebration, or to celebrate someone publicly.

How do you pronounce “fete”?

“Fete” is pronounced fayt (/feɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “fete” in a sentence?

Here is “fete” used in a sentence: “The village fete had a cake stand and a tombola.”

What part of speech is “fete”?

Depending on how it is used, “fete” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “fete” come from?

The word “fete” comes from French. From French fête ("feast, celebration"); a doublet of feast and fiesta.

How many meanings does “fete” have?

“Fete” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a public festival or fair, often held to raise money for charity.

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