bacchanal

1 of 2

noun

bac·​cha·​nal ˈba-kə-nᵊl  ˈbä-  ˌba-kə-ˈnal 

ˌbä-kə-ˈnäl

1

a

: orgy sense 2

b

: orgy sense 3

2

a

: a devotee of Bacchus

especially : one who celebrates the Bacchanalia

b

: reveler

bacchanal

2 of 2

adjective

bac·​cha·​nal ˈba-kə-nᵊl 

: of, relating to, or suggestive of the Bacchanalia : bacchanalian

Examples of bacchanal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Fireworks—plumes of smoke and pinwheeling streaks of sparks—were often deployed to amp up the atmospherics, lending his scenes the feel of a barn-burning bacchanal. — Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 4 July 2026

And, of course, who will end up dead at the end of the upcoming season of Mike White’s all-star bacchanal — because, of course, somebody always does. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2026

Adjective

The feast played out in both reality and in a bacchanal dream sequence. — Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Apr. 2023

Of course, production designer Florencia Martin knows all about this bacchanal world. — Anna Fixsen, ELLE Decor, 1 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin, shrine of Bacchus, probably back-formation from Bacchanalia

First Known Use

Noun

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1550, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bacchanal

• uranyl
• anal