gala

noun

ga·​la ˈgā-lə  ˈga-  ˈgä- 

1

: a festive celebration

especially : a public entertainment marking a special occasion

2

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

gala adjective

Synonyms of gala

• celebration
• festival
• festivity

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

But the annual Mar-a-Lago gala, which also attracts politicians and celebrities, may bring them all to one place the way the inauguration did earlier this year. —Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 30 Dec. 2025

Winners will be honored at the Valentine’s Day awards gala on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 29 Dec. 2025

Kylie took her turn at being a reporter for a special evening at the gala, helping PEOPLE interview all the stars on the carpet. —Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 27 Dec. 2025

On December 3, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater opened its 2025–26 holiday season at New York City Center with a gala that marked a turning point for the company. —Okla Jones, Essence, 26 Dec. 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