cocktail party

noun

: an informal or semiformal party or gathering at which cocktails are served

Examples of cocktail party in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Think cozy, curious, and even a bit magical; vintage library meets intimate cocktail party. Colleen Sullivan, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 June 2025 Thursday The Big Slick event kicks off with a cocktail party at a private residence. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2025 Wear it on its own with strappy stiletto heels for a wedding or cocktail party, or layer an oversized blazer over it for a day at the office — the simple silhouette lends for many styling opportunities. Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 28 May 2025 At a penthouse cocktail party in Austin the night before Natal Con began, the Collinses invited journalists to mingle with founders of gene editing and genetic engineering companies. Lisa Hagen, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cocktail party

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cocktail party was in 1903

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Cite this Entry

“Cocktail party.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cocktail%20party. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

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