festivity

noun

fes·​tiv·​i·​ty fe-ˈsti-və-tē 

fə-

plural festivities

1

: festival sense 1

2

: the quality or state of being festive : gaiety

3

: festive activity

Synonyms of festivity

• cheerfulness
• glee
• merriness
• cheer

Examples of festivity in a Sentence

The decorations give the hall an air of festivity.

The festivities will include a parade, a concert, and games for children.

We enjoyed the New Year's Eve festivities.

Recent Examples on the Web

Inflated food prices are already on the minds of Americans in the lead-up to the holidays, and bird flu has the potential to hinder Thanksgiving festivities, specifically. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025

Experience cultural festivities like the Saint Nicholas Parade and Krampus Run in Igls, Austria, near Innsbruck. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 22 Nov. 2025

The Thanksgiving holiday, a staple of the waning autumn days and a herald of upcoming Christmas festivities, has stood as a pillar of American culture since before the country’s founding. —Angele Latham, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Nov. 2025

Here are three easy ways to incorporate bloat-banishing, after-dinner activities into your Thanksgiving festivities and beyond. —Dana Santas, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for festivity

• acclivity
• activity
• captivity
• declivity
• nativity
• passivity
• proclivity
• absorptivity
• affectivity
• collectivity
• conductivity
• connectivity

Kids Definition

festivity

noun

fes·​tiv·​i·​ty fes-ˈtiv-ət-ē 

plural festivities

1

: festival sense 1

2

: the quality or state of being festive

3

: festive activity