Origin: Latin suffix -al
Carnival has 6 different meanings across 2 categories:
a festival marked by merrymaking and processions
"The town celebrated its annual carnival with colorful floats, lively music, and hours of street dancing."
Any of a number of festivals held just before the beginning of Lent.
"The town celebrated its traditional carnivals right before the start of Lent."
Alternative form of carnival; especially in the sense "any of a number of festivals held just before the beginning of Lent."
In plain English: A carnival is a big, loud festival with rides and games that people celebrate together for fun.
"The whole town gathered at the carnival to ride the Ferris wheel and eat cotton candy."
Usage: Carnival refers specifically to festive celebrations occurring immediately before the Christian season of Lent, often characterized by parades and food. While sometimes used loosely for any large party or fair in modern English, its traditional meaning is tied strictly to this pre-Lenten timing.
The season just before the beginning of the Western Christian season of Lent.
"The town prepared its floats and parades to celebrate carnival, marking the final days of merriment before the solemn fasting period of Lent began."
From Middle French carnaval, from Italian carnevale, possibly from the Latin phrase carnem levāmen ("meat dismissal"). Other scholars suggest Latin carnuālia ("meat-based country feast") or carrus nāvālis ("boat wagon; float") instead. Doublet of carnaval.