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

Strange rituals conducted by children unfold on the beach; dance parties at the big club devolve into fever dream bacchanals; cryptic, threatening symbols appear near the rental house. —John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026

For nearly 10 years running, Lesley VanNess never missed the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, a beachfront bacchanal of celebrities, booze and bites that tens of thousands of attendees pay hundreds to thousands of dollars to join. —CBS News, 24 Feb. 2026

Adjective

In Sunday's episode, those bacchanal fireworks explode. —Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025

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