celebratory

adjective

cel·​e·​bra·​to·​ry ˈse-lə-brə-ˌtȯr-ē 

ˌse-lə-ˈbrā-tə-rē

: of, relating to, expressing, or characterized by celebration

The tone of the article was celebratory.

Both band and audience seemed in celebratory moods, with massive cheers erupting when the lights went out …

—Emily Burnham

: used or intended for use in celebrating

We went for a celebratory drink after the game.

And you can even find meals that don't have any turkey at all; for many Westerners, Thanksgiving dinner is more about celebratory feasting than ironclad tradition, so chefs update their menus with everything from lobster with tomato-basil polenta to butternut squash lasagna.

—Colleen Dunn Bates

Also beginning in earnest is the crop of celebratory activities to mark the 250th anniversary of the quintessential college town.

—James Heflin

Examples of celebratory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The administration has already planned another celebratory military show of force in California set to take place on the same day of the protests, Newsom noted Wednesday. —Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2025

Yet, the Puerto Rican government has taken a celebratory stance that disregards the pain of thousands who are still awaiting justice. —MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025

Above, she and her husband marvel at the celebratory decor at the end of the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention on July 28, 2016. —Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 11 Oct. 2025

Crowds sang and danced the hora, a celebratory Jewish folk dance. —Yamiche Alcindor, NBC news, 10 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for celebratory

• accusatory
• admonitory
• ambulatory
• amendatory
• circulatory
• combinatory
• commendatory
• compensatory
• condemnatory
• confirmatory
• confiscatory
• consolatory