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

Still upcoming is recognition as franchise of the year at the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame gala. — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

The gala includes cocktails and dinner at the Mint Museum Uptown, leading into Bell’s performance of the Bruch violin concerto at the Knight Theater. — Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2026

This year’s gala will feature ABC7 Chicago News journalist Samantha Chatman as the special guest host. — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026

Still, there was much pomp and circumstance at the gala in July, and many thousands of dollars’ worth of clothing and jewelry plus plenty of vertiginous heels negotiating with the gravel. — Sarah Douglas, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 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