Definition of GALA

gala

Plural: gala, galas

Noun

  • A festive public celebration or special occasion.
  • a gay festivity
  • Pomp, show, or festivity.
  • A competition
  • A showy and festive party.
  • A red-skinned variety of eating apple.
  • A member of an androgynous class of priests of the Sumerian goddess Inanna.

Adj

  • Celebratory; festive.

Examples

  • a swimming gala
  • Winning the Scrabble tournament felt like a grand GALA, complete with cheering and prizes.

Origin / Etymology

From French gala, or directly from that word's etymon, which is either Italian gala, or Spanish gala, both meaning "festive occasion", and derived from Old French gale (“rejoicing”). (The French word likely kept the final -a to avoid homophony with gale (“scabies”).) Ultimately cognate to gallant and hence probably from Frankish *wala (“good, well”).

Synonyms

blowout, gala affair, jamboree

Scrabble Score: 5

gala: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
gala: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
gala: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 7

gala: valid Words With Friends Word