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Meaning & use

festivity

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/fesˈtɪvəti/
US/fesˈtɪvəti/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    A joyful atmosphere or feeling of celebration, especially at a public event.

    Grammar: Used without 'a' or a plural: 'There was a lot of festivity in the streets.'

    Patterns

    • a sense of festivity
    • an atmosphere of festivity

    The whole town was filled with a sense of festivity during the parade.

    Bright lights and music added to the festivity of the evening.

  2. nouncountable

    A particular celebration or event, often one of several in a series.

    Grammar: Often used in the plural 'festivities' to mean all the events of a celebration: 'The festivities lasted three days.'

    Patterns

    • the festivities
    • join the festivities
    • part of the festivities

    The wedding festivities continued well into the night.

    We watched the festivities from a balcony overlooking the square.

    She took part in the opening festivities of the festival.

Word forms

pluralfestivities

Common combinations

join the festivities
Hundreds of people joined the festivities in the park.
wedding festivities
The wedding festivities included a dinner and a dance.
a festive atmosphere
The decorations created a festive atmosphere throughout the house.
the spirit of festivity
Even the rain could not dampen the spirit of festivity.

Synonyms and how they differ

celebration
A more general word for a party or event; 'festivity' often suggests the joyful mood rather than the event itself.
merriment
Suggests lively fun and laughter; 'festivity' is broader and can include formal ceremonies.
gaiety
A slightly old-fashioned word for cheerfulness; 'festivity' is more common in modern contexts.

Opposites

solemnitygloom

Word family

festive adjective
Relating to a celebration; cheerful and special.
festival noun
An organized series of events, often with music, food, or performances.
festoon verb
To decorate something with chains of flowers or lights.

Commonly confused: festivity or festival?

festivity vs festival

A festival is a specific event or series of events; festivity refers to the joyful atmosphere or the celebrations themselves.

Practice

Choose the correct word: 'The town was full of ___ during the holiday season.'

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