gala

noun

ga·​la ˈgā-lə  ˈga-  ˈgä- 

1

: a festive celebration

especially : a public entertainment marking a special occasion

2

Gala : a medium-sized apple with crisp yellowish-white sweet flesh and a red skin or a golden skin with red striping

gala adjective

Synonyms of gala

• celebration
• festival
• festivity

Examples of gala in a Sentence

a grand gala celebrating the town's centennial

attended the gala celebrating the reopening of the museum

Recent Examples on the Web

The mayor and city’s deputy mayor attended the main chamber event where the mayor gave his address, while the three other council members — O’Hara, Shaffer and San Antonio — attended the informal mixer portion, but were directed to leave before the main dinner gala occurred. —Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026

Thrash, whose latest project is a benefit gala at the Palace of Versailles planned for June 8, upholds a long tradition of American philanthropy in support of French cultural institutions. —Miles Socha, Footwear News, 26 May 2026

Caroline Scheufele, the artistic director and co-president of Chopard, splashed out as per custom and threw the amfAR gala on May 21 at the Hotel du Cap - Eden Roc in Cap d’Antibes. —Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026

This year’s gala added a record $42 million to that fund. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 25 May 2026

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

Rhymes for gala

• calla
• palla
• salah
• valla
• valhalla
• walhalla

Kids Definition

gala

noun

ga·​la ˈgā-lə  ˈgal-ə 

: a festive celebration

gala adjective