extravaganza

noun

ex·​trav·​a·​gan·​za ik-ˌstra-və-ˈgan-zə 

1

: a lavish or spectacular show or event

2

: something extravagant

3

: a literary or musical work marked by extreme freedom of style and structure and usually by elements of burlesque or parody

Synonyms

• circus
• pageant
• raree-show
• spectacle
• spectacular

Examples of extravaganza in a Sentence

the over-the-top extravaganzas that are usually staged at halftime during the Super Bowl

Recent Examples on the Web

But their plans to quietly elope are upended when Min’s grandmother (Yun) flies in from Korea and insists on an all-out wedding extravaganza. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025

This all produced an extravaganza of surreal visuals and interplays. —Shawn McCreesh, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025

The 2025 inauguration of Donald J. Trump will be a three-day extravaganza in Washington, D.C. leading up to the swearing-in ceremony Monday, January 20 of Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. —Patrick Hipes, Deadline, 16 Jan. 2025

My favorites of the period include classy auteur films (Trouble in Paradise, Shanghai Express), fun trashy romps (Baby Face, Night Nurse), social critiques (Heroes for Sale, Wild Boys of the Road), and dazzling extravaganzas (42nd Street, Gold Diggers of 1933). —Vox Staff, Vox, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian estravaganza, literally, extravagance, from estravagante extravagant, from Medieval Latin extravagant-, extravagans

First Known Use

1754, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

extravaganza

noun

ex·​trav·​a·​gan·​za ik-ˌstrav-ə-ˈgan-zə 

: a spectacular show