gala

noun

ga·​la ˈgā-lə How to pronounce gala (audio) ˈga- How to pronounce gala (audio) ˈgä- How to pronounce gala (audio)
Synonyms of gala
1
: a festive celebration
especially : a public entertainment marking a special occasion
2
Gala : a medium-sized apple with crisp yellowish-white sweet flesh and a red skin or a golden skin with red striping
gala adjective

Synonyms of gala

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Examples of gala in a Sentence

a grand gala celebrating the town's centennial attended the gala celebrating the reopening of the museum
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.
But the designer suffered a fall from grace in 2011 after he was arrested for antisemitic and racist incidents, the catalyst for the backlash to his selection as the subject of the Met's exhibit and its accompanying gala. — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 The museum promised further details on that gala and the Costume Institute show staged alongside it at a later date. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 31 Aug. 2026 The Met will announce a new theme for the 2027 Costume Institute exhibition and gala at a later date. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 31 Aug. 2026 Last week, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin sent a letter to the museum urging it not to honor Galliano at the gala. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gala

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, borrowed from Spanish, "elegance, pomp, occasion marked by display," borrowed from Middle French gale "festivity, pleasure" — more at gallant entry 1

First Known Use

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gala was in 1777

Rhymes for gala

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Browse Nearby Words

Gal
gala
galabia
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Cite this Entry

“Gala.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gala. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gala

noun
ga·​la ˈgā-lə How to pronounce gala (audio) ˈgal-ə How to pronounce gala (audio)
: a festive celebration
gala adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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