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

Korean star Han Ji-min accepted The Hollywood Reporter’s Trailblazer Award at a glitzy gala high above Busan on Wednesday night, promising that her creative journey was only just beginning. — Mathew Scott, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

So the group storms an elite gala in Greece hosted by vapid billionaire Ben Bracken (Vincent Cassel). — David Faris, TheWeek, 7 Oct. 2026

Within a few years, NBC turned the Hollywood gala into a national telecast fitting for the small screen. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Jacinto closed the ceremony by looking back at his first CAPE gala 10 years ago. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026

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