bacchanal

1 of 2

noun

bac·​cha·​nal ˈba-kə-nᵊl  ˈbä-  ˌba-kə-ˈnal 

ˌbä-kə-ˈnäl

1

a

: orgy sense 2

b

: orgy sense 3

2

a

: a devotee of Bacchus

especially : one who celebrates the Bacchanalia

b

: reveler

bacchanal

2 of 2

adjective

bac·​cha·​nal ˈba-kə-nᵊl 

: of, relating to, or suggestive of the Bacchanalia : bacchanalian

Examples of bacchanal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The woman at the center of revelations of bacchanals at the former Italian prime minister’s villa is still fighting a court case, and a negative public image, 14 years later. —Emma Bubola, New York Times, 13 Oct. 2024

Or perhaps there are simply too many visions, all elbowing for center stage in Coppola’s rowdy bacchanal. —Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Sep. 2024

Adjective

The feast played out in both reality and in a bacchanal dream sequence. —Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Apr. 2023

Of course, production designer Florencia Martin knows all about this bacchanal world. —Anna Fixsen, ELLE Decor, 1 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin, shrine of Bacchus, probably back-formation from Bacchanalia

First Known Use

Noun

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1550, in the meaning defined above