festivity

noun

fes·​tiv·​i·​ty fe-ˈsti-və-tē How to pronounce festivity (audio)
fə-
plural festivities
Synonyms of festivitynext
1
2
: the quality or state of being festive : gaiety
3
: festive activity

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
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.
Last June, Lauren Sánchez and Jeff Bezos celebrated their union in Venice, the city of love—and the scene of a very real controversy, with some locals claiming that the festivities were disrupting daily life there. Blanche Marcel, Vanity Fair, 13 Apr. 2026 Just a short distance away from the ongoing Coachella festivities—where celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Lizzo, and Hailey Bieber, gathered to showcase their style prowess—Roberts looked effortlessly cool in a pair of ultra-short silk shorts. Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026 The main-stage festivities at Coachella 2026 ended earlier than expected Friday night. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026 Both sides of the ball were eager to hit the field with the festivities starting before practice even began. Gabriel Duarte, Daily News, 11 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for festivity

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of festivity was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Festivity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/festivity. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

festivity

noun
fes·​tiv·​i·​ty fes-ˈtiv-ət-ē How to pronounce festivity (audio)
plural festivities
1
2
: the quality or state of being festive
3
: festive activity

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