bacchanalia

1 of 3

noun (1)

bac·​cha·​na·​lia ˌba-kə-ˈnāl-yə 

ˌbä-

plural bacchanalia

1

Bacchanalia plural : a Roman festival of Bacchus celebrated with dancing, song, and revelry

2

a

: orgy sense 2

b

: orgy sense 3

bacchanalian

ˌba-kə-ˈnāl-yən 

ˌbä-

adjective or noun

bacchanalian

2 of 3

adjective

bac·​cha·​na·​lian ¦ba-kə-¦nāl-yən 

¦bä-, 

-lē-ən

: of, relating to, or suggesting the ancient Roman religious rites marked by orgiastic revelry and drunkenness that were held in honor of Bacchus, the god of wine

bacchanalian

3 of 3

noun (2)

bac·​cha·​na·​lian ¦ba-kə-¦nāl-yən 

¦bä-, 

-lē-ən

plural -s

: a bacchanalian reveler : bacchanal entry 2 sense 1

Did you know?

The Roman god of drama, wine, and ecstasy, Bacchus was the focus of a widespread celebration, the Bacchanalia. The festivities were originally secret, and only initiated members could participate. There was wine in abundance, and participants were expected to cut loose from normal restraints and give in to all sorts of wild desires. Eventually the Bacchanalia became more public and uncontrolled, finally getting so out of hand that in 186 B.C. the Roman authorities had it banned. Much the same bacchanalian spirit fills tropical carnivals every year, including New Orleans' Mardi Gras.

Examples of bacchanalia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

More than 350 authors will gather on 21 stages for a three-day bacchanalia of literature, which in the past has drawn more than 25,000 people to downtown Berkeley. — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 28 May 2026

Mini bars burst with silk eye covers, collagen masks, melatonin sprays and ear plugs, suggesting the bacchanalia Estelle encourages. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2026

All my pre-planning collapsed into a still-now-overwhelming-to-contemplate bacchanalia of trying stuff. — Adam Dalva, Longreads, 29 Apr. 2026

While the young actors light up the screen in their other ventures, here, they are simply dragged and squeezed into Levinson's male gaze bacchanalia. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Latin, from Bacchus

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1605, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1605, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bacchanalia

• marginalia
• saturnalia
• terminalia
• azalea
• mammalia
• regalia
• vidalia
• paraphernalia
• thalia