gala

[gey-luh, gal-uh, gah-luh]

adjective

1. festive; festal; showy.

   Her birthday parties were always gala occasions.

noun

1. a festive occasion; celebration; special entertainment.

   a gala featuring opera stars in their most famous scenes.

2. festal pomp or dress.

gala

/ ˈɡɑːlə, ˈɡeɪlə /

noun

1. 1. a celebration; festive occasion

   2. ( as modifier )

      a gala occasion

2. a sporting occasion involving competitions in several events

   a swimming gala

Word History and Origins

Origin of gala¹

1615–25; < French < Italian < Old French; gallant

Word History and Origins

Origin of gala¹

C17: from French or Italian, from Old French gale pleasure, from Old French galer to make merry, probably of Germanic origin; compare _gallant

Example Sentences

Only three Grand Slam galas - the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open - have been worth attending.

From BBC

Los Angeles is uniquely suited for the gala, which seeks to highlight and strengthen the connections between film and visual art by bringing the two communities together in grand style.

From Los Angeles Times

Newcastle striker Alexander Isak is not expected to attend Tuesday night's Professional Footballers' Association's awards gala.

From BBC

The former players for Canada's world junior hockey team were accused of assaulting the woman, known as EM, in a hotel room in 2018 in London, Ontario, where they had attended a Hockey Canada gala.

From BBC

A defining event for the modern club, however, was its “forbidden gala” in 2020, which took place across the Hudson River in Jersey City.

From Salon

Related Words

• bash 
• celebration 
• dance 
• festivity 
• fiesta 
• function 
• jamboree 
• pageant 
• prom 
• shindig