cocktail party

noun

Synonyms of cocktail partynext
: an informal or semiformal party or gathering at which cocktails are served

Examples of cocktail party in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Dress it up with heels and statement jewelry for a cocktail party, or keep things casual with a pair of cute sneakers and a denim jacket. Kate Donovan, Southern Living, 16 June 2026 Set out a bowl at your next cocktail party with crudité (or french fries! Georgina Hayden, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 June 2026 The night prior, Tiffany hosted Boneta and the rest of the cast — Al Pacino, KiKi Layne, Kendrick Sampson and more — for a cocktail party to celebrate the film. Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 10 June 2026 The film is shaped around a cocktail party Greaves hosted at Duke Ellington’s home in Harlem. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cocktail party

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cocktail party was in 1903

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cocktail party.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cocktail%20party. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on cocktail party

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster