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

This leaderboard breaks down who’s accumulated enough of the memecoin to attend the gala luncheon and other festivities. —Ben Weiss, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026

The 25th annual gala honored 2025 Kyoto Prize laureates Shun-ichi Amari in advanced technology, Azim Surani in basic sciences and Carol Gilligan in arts and philosophy. —La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026

The news came at Taco Bell’s Live Más Live gala March 10, during which the company introduced more than 20 new menu items — though the under-eye patches are the only non-edibles being rolled out. —Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026

The film is set for its gala premiere in Thailand on March 30, ahead of a countrywide theatrical release on April 2. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Mar. 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