Festival Definition, Examples & Common Uses (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：public celebration (festival)

festival 🔊

/ˈfɛstɪvəl/

A special event where many people come together to celebrate something or enjoy performances, often lasting for several days.

Festival celebration scene with crowd and stage

public celebration 🔊

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/ˈpʌblɪk ˌsɛlɪˈbreɪʃən/

A special event where many people gather to celebrate something, often with performances, food, and activities.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'festivus' (joyful), from 'festum' (feast).

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'festive' – a festival is a festive celebration with music and fun.

📖 Example

We enjoyed amazing live music and food from around the world at the summer festival in the park. 🔊 We had a wonderful time at the summer festival in the park, enjoying live music and delicious food from around the world.

🔗 Collocations

music festival – A festival that focuses on musical performances.

food festival – A festival featuring various foods and culinary activities.

cultural festival – A festival celebrating the traditions of a particular culture.

🔄 Synonyms

celebration (n.) – A joyful occasion or event.

carnival (n.) – A public festival with processions, games, and entertainment.

fair (n.) – An event with stalls, rides, and amusements, often held outdoors.

🌱 Derivatives

festive (adj.) – Relating to a festival; joyous.

festivity (n.) – A celebration or joyful activity.

fest (n.) – A short informal word for a festival, often in compounds like 'music fest'.

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Latin 'festum' meaning 'feast' or 'holiday'. Medieval religious festivals evolved into modern cultural celebrations.

Meaning 2：themed event series (festival)

festival 🔊

/ˈfɛstɪvəl/

A period or series of events concentrated on a particular activity or theme, showing a lively time in that field.

Festival event series in bookstore setting

themed event series 🔊

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/θimd ɪˈvɛnt ˈsɪriːz/

A series of events concentrated on a specific activity or theme, such as a comedy festival or film festival.

📁 Category：Entertainment & Sports 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The comedy club organized a month-long stand-up festival, featuring both famous and new comedians. 🔊 The comedy club hosted a month-long stand-up festival that featured both famous and up-and-coming comedians.

🔗 Collocations

comedy festival – A festival featuring stand-up and other comedy performances.

film festival – A festival showcasing films and movies.

art festival – A festival displaying various forms of art like paintings, sculptures, and performances.

🔄 Synonyms

showcase (n.) – An event that presents a collection of performances or works.

exposition (n.) – A large public exhibition or fair.

series (n.) – A number of related events held one after another.