gala

noun

ga·​la ˈgā-lə  ˈga-  ˈgä- 

1

: a festive celebration

especially : a public entertainment marking a special occasion

2

capitalized : a medium-sized apple with crisp yellowish-white sweet flesh and a red skin or a golden skin with red striping

gala adjective

Synonyms

• carnival
• celebration
• fest
• festival
• festivity
• fete
• fête
• fiesta
• jubilee

Examples of gala in a Sentence

a grand gala celebrating the town's centennial

attended the gala celebrating the reopening of the museum

Recent Examples on the Web

My friends, Max and Will Grove, who are involved with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York, invited me to join them at their table at the organization’s annual fundraising gala. —Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 25 Apr. 2025

Invitations are typically limited to elite figures in the worlds of fashion and entertainment, and are approved by Anna Wintour, who has overseen the gala since 1995. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025

Portraits of Spielberg, Grandin, Harjo and Dimon will be commissioned or acquired by the gallery in anticipation of the award gala on November 15, 2025. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025

Now, on April 24, she will be honored at Billboard and Telemundo’s annual Latin Women in Music gala with the Woman of the Year award. —Griselda Flores, Billboard, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, borrowed from Spanish, "elegance, pomp, occasion marked by display," borrowed from Middle French gale "festivity, pleasure" — more at gallant entry 1

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for gala

• calla
• palla
• salah
• valla
• valhalla
• walhalla

Kids Definition

gala

noun

ga·​la ˈgā-lə  ˈgal-ə 

: a festive celebration

gala adjective