gala
noun
ga·la ˈgā-lə 
ˈga- ˈgä-
ˈga- ˈgä- 1
: a festive celebration
especially : a public entertainment marking a special occasion
2
capitalized : a medium-sized apple with crisp yellowish-white sweet flesh and a red skin or a golden skin with red striping
gala adjective
Synonyms
- carnival
- celebration
- fest
- festival
- festivity
- fete
- fête
- fiesta
- jubilee
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a grand gala celebrating the town's centennial attended the gala celebrating the reopening of the museum
Recent Examples on the Web By then, Markey was busy with new assignments for A Reporter at Large, writing about Harlem’s African American jazz clubs and an exorbitant gala celebrating the birth of NBC. 
Joe Pompeo, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2022 On Saturday, Queen Margrethe, 82, hosted a gala to celebrate her 50-year reign at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen. Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 11 Sep. 2022 For instance, the two attended a Unicef gala in Capri, Italy together in July 2021. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 10 Sep. 2022 The opening gala on Sept. 24 features work by composer-in-residence Carlos Simon as well as the return of Daniil Trifonov, who is owed a proper audience after his last appearance to a scant and socially distanced assembly of listeners in May 2021. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2022 The Black Tie Charity Preview, a fundraising gala, is on September 16. Emma Stein, Detroit Free Press, 9 Sep. 2022 On Thursday, the couple will return to London to attend the WellChild Awards, the annual gala for a charity that helps to support seriously ill children and their families. Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2022 It's been a hot sec since Z gave us a glimpse at her off-duty actress style, with her most recent looks leaning towards red carpet ready styles like her geometric gala gown and ball-worthy red dress. Seventeen, 1 Sep. 2022 The church celebrates the end of the priesthood/temple ban in a joyous and soulful gala. David Noyce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 See More
Joe Pompeo, The New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2022 On Saturday, Queen Margrethe, 82, hosted a gala to celebrate her 50-year reign at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen. Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 11 Sep. 2022 For instance, the two attended a Unicef gala in Capri, Italy together in July 2021. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 10 Sep. 2022 The opening gala on Sept. 24 features work by composer-in-residence Carlos Simon as well as the return of Daniil Trifonov, who is owed a proper audience after his last appearance to a scant and socially distanced assembly of listeners in May 2021. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2022 The Black Tie Charity Preview, a fundraising gala, is on September 16. Emma Stein, Detroit Free Press, 9 Sep. 2022 On Thursday, the couple will return to London to attend the WellChild Awards, the annual gala for a charity that helps to support seriously ill children and their families. Maria Puente, USA TODAY, 5 Sep. 2022 It's been a hot sec since Z gave us a glimpse at her off-duty actress style, with her most recent looks leaning towards red carpet ready styles like her geometric gala gown and ball-worthy red dress. Seventeen, 1 Sep. 2022 The church celebrates the end of the priesthood/temple ban in a joyous and soulful gala. David Noyce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
borrowed from French, borrowed from Spanish, "elegance, pomp, occasion marked by display," borrowed from Middle French gale "festivity, pleasure" — more at gallant entry 1
First Known Use
1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
gala 1 of 2
noun
ga·la ˈgā-lə
ˈga-lə,
ˈgä-
: a large showy celebration
We attended our town's 100th anniversary gala.
gala
2 of 2adjective
: being or resembling a large showy celebration
gala events
galas
noun
as in festivals
a time or program of special events and entertainment in honor of something attended the gala celebrating the reopening of the museum Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- festivals
- celebrations
- festivities
- fiestas
- fetes
- jubilees
- carnivals
- fests
- fêtes
- exhibitions
- jamborees
- fairs
- rejoicings
- merriments
- revelries
- exhibits
- jollities
- revels
- jollifications
- merrymakings
- expositions
- shows
- exercises
- honors
- spotted cuscus
- spotted cutworm
- spotted dead nettle
- spotted deer
- spotted dick
- spotted dogfish
- spotted eagle
- spotted eagle ray
- spotted fever
- spotted fever tick
- spotted flycatcher
- spotted gar
- spotted goby
- spotted ground squirrel
- spotted grunter
- spotted gum
- spotted hound
- spotted hyena
- spotted jewelweed
- spotted jewfish
- spotted knapweed
- spotted knotweed
- spotted liver
- spotted loco
- spotted locoweed