gala

[ gey-luh, gal-uh; especially British 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

Within months of the gala, he retracted his secret plea.

From New York Times

With no board of directors to please or annual donor gala to host, it allows you to really focus on the patrons, McNicholl said.

From Los Angeles Times

Her swift rise through San Francisco’s rough-and-tumble politics were defined by days in courtrooms representing victims and nights at glitzy political galas.

From BBC

He also employed some creative tactics to get authorities’ attention, including driving to San Diego to crash a gala dinner full of lawyers who work on innocence cases.

From Los Angeles Times

A behind the scenes look at a film gala held in San Francisco that screened movies made with artificial intelligence.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• festive
• joyful