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

• 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

Recently, a gala fund raiser brought in more than $1.3 million. —Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2025

This year, Bieber attended the gala solo while her husband Justin Bieber, supported her from home. —Michelle Lee, People.com, 23 June 2025

In another, an audience get to its feet to applaud a famed film director who’s accepting a prize at an awards gala, his face daubed in Indigenous face paint style. —John Hopewell, Variety, 19 June 2025

On Saturday — the same day as Trooping the Colour — Meghan was set to be honored at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s Night of Wonder gala. —Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 14 June 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