festive

adjective

fes·​tive ˈfe-stiv 

1

: of, relating to, or suitable for a feast or festival

a festive occasion

The house looks festive during the holidays.

2

: joyful, gay

a festive mood

festively adverb

festiveness noun

Synonyms

• blithe
• blithesome
• gay
• gleeful
• jocose
• jocular
• jocund
• jolly
• jovial
• laughing
• merry
• mirthful
• sunny

Examples of festive in a Sentence

The house looks very festive during the holidays.

She was in a festive mood.

The reunion will be a festive occasion.

Recent Examples on the Web

Videos online showed the ship sailing underneath the bridge, connecting the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan, as its masts, apparently strung with festive lights, collided with it. —Gabrielle Banks, USA Today, 19 May 2025

With the coaches’ short on time to make plans for the festive season, the club pulled some strings and arranged a table for their Christmas dinner at The Fox at Shipley, a country pub 10 minutes outside Wolverhampton on the Shropshire border. —Steve Madeley, New York Times, 17 May 2025

Winning trainer: Brittany T. Russell. 2025 Preakness Day | PHOTOS Photos of horses, fans and a festive atmosphere at the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. —Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025

And the list is stacked with 11 Hallmark hunks and festive favorites. —Breanne L. Heldman, People.com, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin festivus, from festum

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for festive

• restive
• congestive
• digestive
• suggestive

Kids Definition

festive

adjective

fes·​tive ˈfes-tiv 

1

: of, relating to, or suitable for a feast or festival

2

: joyous, merry

festively adverb

festiveness noun