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1

festoon

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noun fes·toon \ fe-ˈstün \

Definition of festoon

1 :a decorative chain or strip hanging between two points

walls decorated with festoons of flowers

2 :a carved, molded, or painted ornament representing a decorative chain

Around the mirror were carved festoons of grapevines.

See festoon defined for English-language learners

See festoon defined for kids

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Recent Examples of festoon from the Web

In December, the council approved the design for the street, including a portion of the road ordained with overhead festoon lights.

— ryan gillespie, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Maitland moves forward in reshaping downtown," 27 June 2017
Graffiti bearing the team's red dragons logo festoons the outside of the old stand, which is adorned with littered stairwells and poured cement with all the charm of an old prison.

— motez bishara, CNN, "Champions League final 2017: Zinedine Zidane's incredible journey from Cannes to Cardiff," 1 June 2017
Rustic figures The cave had collapsed some years earlier, but that didn’t obscure the rustic figures of animals, fish and humans in daubs of black, white and red that festoon the entry wall.

— brian j. cantwell, The Seattle Times, "From Loreto, 3 day-trip adventures in Baja’s high desert," 31 May 2017
Rustic figures The cave had collapsed some years earlier, but that didn’t obscure the rustic figures of animals, fish and humans in daubs of black, white and red that festoon the entry wall.

— brian j. cantwell, The Seattle Times, "From Loreto, 3 day-trip adventures in Baja’s high desert," 31 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'festoon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

Festoon can also be a verb that is used as a synonym of "decorate" or "adorn" (as in "the room was festooned with streamers and balloons"). The verb "festoon," which first appeared in the late 1700s, comes from the noun "festoon," which appeared over 100 years earlier. "Festoon" traces back (by way of French and Italian) to Latin festa, the plural of festum, meaning "festival." "Festa" is also an ancestor of the English noun "feast."

Origin and Etymology of festoon

French feston, from Italian festone, from festa festival, from Latin — more at feast

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1630

See Words from the same year

2

festoon

verb

Definition of festoon

transitive verb

1 :to hang or form festoons on

2 :to shape into festoons

3 :decorate, adorn; also :cover 4b

See festoon defined for English-language learners

Examples of festoon in a Sentence

We festooned the halls with leaves and white lights.
The balcony is festooned in ivy.
His office is festooned with newspaper clippings.

Recent Examples of festoon from the Web

When the boat turned onto Eklutna Lake Road, its railings were festooned with birch leaves.

— author: rick sinnott, Alaska Dispatch News, "Anchorage’s own Noah: A boat builder’s 30-year obsession comes together at last," 26 Aug. 2017
But there was queasiness, too, at the inescapable memories of old photos showing the theater defiled during the Nazi era, festooned with swastikas and visited regularly by Hitler.

— michael cooper, New York Times, "Watching Neo-Nazis in Virginia From a German Opera House," 16 Aug. 2017
A pro-Nazi rally organized by the German American Bund, which festooned MSG’s interior with both American flags, swastika-bearing banners, and a thirty-plus foot high painting of George Washington.

— matt giles, Longreads, "A Look Back at the 1939 Pro-Nazi Rally at Madison Square Garden and the Protestors Who Organized Against It," 13 Aug. 2017
A dapper-looking Leslie Edward Sutter, bedecked in a red pinstriped zoot suit with a sombrero festooned with plastic ponies, wasn’t seeking glory.

— michele parente, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Del Mar brimming with fab hats," 19 July 2017
Javier Baez shirts were combined with hats festooned with tiny bottles of Captain Morgan rum.

— rebecca aydin, chicagotribune.com, "Parrotheads converge on Wrigley for Buffett love," 16 July 2017
Fan friendly means there’s a lawn festooned with pillows, encouraging midday naps.

— jon wertheim, SI.com, "Wimbledon is truly a treasure, but its classic strawberries and cream snack is not," 13 July 2017
The annual Old Glory Boat Parade, sponsored by the American Legion Yacht Club and American Legion Post 291, will go from 1 to 3:30 p.m. with boats festooned in red, white and blue sailing through Newport Harbor, starting off Collins Island.

— daily pilot staff, Daily Pilot, "Where to parade, party, see fireworks and find more festivities for July Fourth," 30 June 2017
For years people in campers and vans had been crapping in the irises along the sidewalk, leaving them festooned with used toilet paper, despite nice bathroom facilities in the park.

— dean kuipers, Los Angeles Magazine, "Compassion for Homeless RV Dwellers," 28 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'festoon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of festoon

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1765

See Words from the same year

festoon Synonyms

Synonyms

adorn, array, beautify, bedeck, bedizen, blazon, caparison, deck, do, doll up, do up, drape, dress, embellish, emblaze, emboss, enrich, fancify, fancy up, decorate, garnish, glitz (up), grace, gussy up, ornament, pretty (up), trim

Antonyms

blemish, deface, disfigure, mar, scar, spoil

Related Words

accessorize, dress up, trap, trick (out); brighten, freshen, smarten, spruce (up); boss, chase; braid, embroider, feather, figure, filigree, fillet, flounce, frill, fringe, furbelow, garland, hang, lace, ribbon, swag, wreathe; appliqué, gild, paint; diamond, gem, impearl, jewel, pearl; redecorate, redo

Near Antonyms

simplify, streamline; bare, denude, dismantle, display, divest, expose, reveal, strip, uncover; uglify

FESTOON Defined for English Language Learners

festoon

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noun

Definition of festoon for English Language Learners

: a long chain or strip of something (such as flowers or cloth) that is hung as a decoration

festoon

verb

Definition of festoon for English Language Learners

: to cover or decorate (something) with many small objects, pieces of paper, etc.

FESTOON Defined for Kids

1

festoon

play

noun fes·toon \ fe-ˈstün \

Definition of festoon for Students

:a chain or strip hanging between two points as decoration

2

festoon

verb

Definition of festoon for Students

festooned; festooning

:to hang or form festoons or other decorations on

Learn More about festoon

See words that rhyme with festoon Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for festoon Spanish Central: Translation of festoon Nglish: Translation of festoon for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about festoon

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up festoon? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

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WORD OF THE DAY

anathematize

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to curse or denounce

BROWSE DICTIONARY

festivity

festivous

festoon

festoon cloud

festoon drier

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Examples: festoon in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?