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 event hosted hundreds of guests that had the opportunity to watch the festivities from the hotel’s multiple floors. —Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024

During the festivities, guests also caught a sneak peek of Thuma’s new loungewear line, which arrives just in time for holiday gifting. —Lila Allen, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2024

Andaz Mexico City Condesa offers a convenient base for exploring the festivities in the trendy and highly walkable neighborhood Condesa. —Roger Sands, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Plot: Homer’s laziness ruins the festivities of December 31, 1999/January 1, 2000, when the Y2K virus spreads worldwide, causing computers everywhere to go haywire. —Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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