gaiety

noun

gai·​ety ˈgā-ə-tē 

variants or less commonly gayety

plural gaieties also gayeties

1

: merrymaking

also : festive activity

—often plural

2

: high spirits : merriment

3

: elegance, finery

Synonyms of gaiety

• attire
• finery
• costume
• bravery
• frippery

Examples of gaiety in a Sentence

The party had none of the gaiety we've seen in past years.

the gaiety of the carnival

Recent Examples on the Web

Anchoring all this is Fiomona’s open-hearted and entertaining performance, deftly moving between emotionally heavy dramatic scenes and others full of gaiety. — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 22 May 2026

The night carried a distinctly American blend of violence and gaiety. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 26 Apr. 2026

The service itself is fleet on its feet, which lends to the gaiety of simply being in this space, with a noise level not to high (except for a wholly out of place intrusion of thumping music Boulud would never have in France). — John Mariani, Forbes.com, 25 Mar. 2026

Later, for nearly 60 years, the lights were out and the gaiety muted in this once-vibrant community. — Dorothy Jenkins Fields, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "cheerfulness," borrowed from Middle French gayeté, going back to Old French, from gai gay entry 1 + -eté -ity

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gaiety

• piety
• antianxiety
• intersociety
• anxiety
• impiety
• propriety
• satiety
• sobriety
• society
• variety
• contrariety
• impropriety

Kids Definition

gaiety

noun

gai·​ety

variants also gayety

ˈgā-ət-ē

plural gaieties

1

: merrymaking sense 1

2

: high spirits