festivity

noun

fes·​tiv·​i·​ty fe-ˈsti-və-tē 

fə-

plural festivities

1

: festival sense 1

2

: the quality or state of being festive : gaiety

3

: festive activity

Synonyms

• cheer
• cheerfulness
• cheeriness
• gaiety
• gayety
• gayness
• glee
• gleefulness
• hilarity
• jocundity
• joviality
• merriment
• merriness
• mirth
• mirthfulness

Examples of festivity in a Sentence

The decorations give the hall an air of festivity.

The festivities will include a parade, a concert, and games for children.

We enjoyed the New Year's Eve festivities.

Recent Examples on the Web

The festivities are expected to echo the historic celebrations of VE Day 80 years ago, when Queen Elizabeth's father, King George VI, announced via radio that World War II was over in Europe amid victory by the Allied Powers. —Janine Henni, People.com, 8 May 2025

For the final leg of Met Gala festivities, Rihanna attended the A$AP Rocky x Ray Ban Met Gala After Party in belly-baring black lace, leather, and satin. —Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 6 May 2025

The visit was organized by Guinness World Records as part of its 70th anniversary festivities, reports KUSA’s Megan Divers. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 May 2025

This holiday is the perfect time to turn up the flavor, and this is our way of adding a little extra excitement to the festivities. —Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for festivity

• acclivity
• activity
• captivity
• declivity
• nativity
• passivity
• proclivity
• absorptivity
• affectivity
• collectivity
• conductivity
• connectivity

Kids Definition

festivity

noun

fes·​tiv·​i·​ty fes-ˈtiv-ət-ē 

plural festivities

1

: festival sense 1

2

: the quality or state of being festive

3

: festive activity